What does hyperopia mean?
Hyperopia is the medical term for farsightedness, a refractive condition in which the eye focuses incoming light behind the retina. As a result, close objects may look blurred, while distant objects are often seen more clearly. Hyperopia commonly reflects an eyeball that is slightly too short or a cornea and lens with too little focusing power, although age-related changes can also contribute to similar difficulties. It should not be confused with presbyopia, the age-related reduction in near focusing ability; the two conditions can occur together. In ordinary use, farsightedness is more accessible than hyperopia, but the technical term is useful in clinical discussion because it identifies a particular kind of refractive error. Diagnosis typically involves an eye examination, and treatment may include corrective lenses or, in selected cases, procedures that reshape the cornea. Hyperopia is the optical opposite of myopia, the condition in which distant objects appear blurred.
nounHyperopia is a refractive error of the eye in which light from nearby objects is focused behind the retina, causing near objects to appear blurred while distant objects are usually clearer. It is commonly called farsightedness and may result from an eyeball that is too short or from insufficient focusing power.
- A refractive error of the eye, commonly called farsightedness, in which nearby objects appear blurred because the eye's focusing system forms an image behind the retina.
"The optometrist diagnosed mild hyperopia and prescribed reading glasses."
"Her mild hyperopia made reading small print difficult despite her excellent distance vision."
"Corrected hyperopia is usually treated with convex lenses that help bring the focal point forward."
Rare in general use; hyperopia is normally treated as an uncountable condition name.
"The clinic recorded several different types of hyperopias before recommending individual corrections."
Hyperopia and myopia are optical opposites: in one, light focuses behind the retina; in the other, it focuses in front.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hyperopia come from?
Hyperopia is a New Latin formation based on Greek hȳper, meaning over or beyond, and opsis, meaning sight, view, or appearance. Its sense reflects vision focused beyond the near point, in contrast with the related Greek-derived term myopia. The word entered medical usage alongside alternative forms such as hypermetropia, and its elements recur in other terms including hyperbole, hypertension, and microscope.
Related word forms
How hyperopia is actually used
This is primarily a medical and technical term; in general usage, farsightedness or longsightedness is more accessible. It normally functions as an uncountable name for the condition.
Easily confused with hyperopia
Hyperopia is farsightedness, in which nearby objects tend to appear blurred, whereas myopia is nearsightedness, in which distant objects tend to appear blurred.
Hyperopia is a refractive error arising from the eye's focusing geometry, while presbyopia is age-related loss of the ability to focus on nearby objects; a person can have both.