Hypermetropia - farsightedness - hyperopia in children

Farsightedness (hypermetropia or hyperopia) is the most missed eye condition at school and pediatrician screenings because small to moderate amounts don't usually blur the child's vision. Children's symptoms increase with age and amount of hyperopia, but they often don't know that the discomfort they feel is abnormal and they get numb to it. Often, it plays out as near-task avoidance.

If reading is uncomfortable or tiresome after extended periods, the child usually develops avoidance patterns, which can turn into habits, attitudes, labels, and a self perception that can often be difficult to correct as the child gets older. As a parent, you can watch for these avoidance patterns, afternoon headaches, or strange visual behavior like squinting, sideways looking, or looking closer than normal at books, TV, etc.

Some eye doctors use a blanket approach to correcting a child's farsightedness-relying strictly on numbers. It is very important to find a practitioner who is committed to using the more sophisticated approach of finding the correction that makes the farsighted child comfortable for near tasks (whether that amount is none, or something different from their full correction). If correction is needed, sometimes single vision lenses suffice, or sometimes it is more convenient to put it in the form of bifocals. These are all complexities that take time to sort through and you will do well to expect your doctor to explain and recommend what is best for your child.

Having your child examined before the age of two is the best way to make certain that problems aren't missed which can lead to poor school performance and delayed visual development.