What does hyperope mean?
A hyperope is a person with hyperopia, the condition commonly called farsightedness. In a hyperopic eye, light from nearby objects tends to focus behind the retina rather than directly on it, so nearby text may appear blurred while distant objects can be seen more clearly. The condition can affect people of any age, although it becomes more common with age and may require corrective lenses. “Hyperope” is chiefly a formal or medical noun, distinguished by ending in “-ope,” as in “myope” for a nearsighted person. Most speakers would more readily say “farsighted person,” “longsighted person,” or “person with hyperopia.” The term is nevertheless useful in technical discussion because it names the person rather than the condition, paralleling “myope” and “hypermetrope.” It should not be confused with hyperopia, which refers to the visual condition itself rather than to the person who has it.
nounA person who has hyperopia, or farsightedness; a person whose vision is focused behind rather than directly on the retina.
- A person with farsightedness, especially someone whose eyesight is focused behind the retina.
"The optometist recommended reading glasses for the hyperope."
"The young hyperope struggled to read the menu without spectacles."
"As a hyperope, she usually wore glasses while driving at night."
The regular plural is used when referring to more than one person with farsightedness.
"The survey included hyperopes from several age groups."
A hyperope sees distant objects more clearly than nearby ones—a condition called hyperopia.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hyperope come from?
Hyperope comes from Greek roots associated with hupér, meaning “over,” and ops or ōpos, meaning “eye.” The form reflects the older terminology used to describe farsightedness, in which the eye was understood as focusing excessively far away. Its relatives include the English words hyperopia, hyperopic, and hypermetropia.
Related word forms
How hyperope is actually used
This is an uncommon formal or medical term. In ordinary contemporary usage, “farsighted person” or “person with hyperopia” is more natural, especially in American English.
Easily confused with hyperope
Hyperope is a person who has farsightedness, whereas hyperopia is the condition of farsightedness itself.