Is your child having trouble seeing close-up objects such as their phone? Are they struggling to read small print? Do they rub their eyes often or complain they feel tired or sore? Do you suspect they might be long-sighted or have hyperopia?
As parents, your child’s health and development is a huge focus. While doctor’s visits are regular occurrences, eye exams are sometimes overlooked. Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a common vision issue affecting children’s learning and development, but it can often go undiagnosed.
What is Hyperopia?
Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, means that a person can see distant objects more clearly than those close up. For children, mild hyperopia may go undetected. They might not show obvious symptoms because young eyes can compensate for the condition, making it more difficult to spot. However, this doesn’t mean it won’t affect your child’s vision or learning.
How Does Hyperopia Affect Learning?
Children with undiagnosed hyperopia may struggle with tasks that require close-up focus, such as reading, writing, or working on a computer. Having trouble seeing words clearly can lead to frustration and a lack of interest in reading.
Signs that your child may have hyperopia include:
- Complaints of headaches or tired eyes
- Difficulty focusing on close-up tasks
- Squinting when reading or looking at something nearby
- Rubbing their eyes often
- Fatigue because it takes effort to focus on an object
- Frequent headaches
- Avoiding close-up activities such as reading or drawing
These signs can be misread as behavioural or learning difficulties rather than a vision issue. This is why regular eye exams to identify potential problems early on are so important. If your child has difficulty focusing in school or shows signs of vision problems, booking an eye exam is a good first step.
The importance of regular eye exams
Children should have their first comprehensive eye exam at the age of five so vision problems like hyperopia can be detected and treated before they start to interfere with learning and development. Farsightedness usually is present at birth and tends to run in families. There are varying degrees of farsightedness.
At John O’Connor Optometrists, our experienced team use advanced equipment to assess your child’s vision and overall eye health.
Treatment for Hyperopia
If your child is diagnosed with hyperopia, we will recommend a treatment plan. While mild hyperopia in children may not always need intervention, more significant cases often require correction, such as great-looking prescription glasses or contact lenses. At our Auckland optometrists in Henderson and Newmarket, we offer a variety of stylish, affordable frames for children.
Our collection of designer frames will allow them to see great, look great and feel great and we also have premium frames to fit every budget. Our staff can help you choose the right frames and even sunglasses so they’ll look great, see great and feel great. Your child certainly will not have to compromise style for functionality because we believe good eyewear should not only help your child see better but also boost their confidence.
John O’Connor Optometrists has been a trusted family-owned practice in Auckland since 1978. We focus on providing high-quality eyecare and eyewear at affordable prices. Schedule an appointment today! Call 09 5221283 to schedule an appointment at our Newmarket location or reach our Henderson Optometrist team on 09 836 1731.