Eyesight conditions like hyperopia, or farsightedness, are known to be caused, in part, by genetics. New research on how genetic factors are shared across vision diagnoses has further confirmed this idea.
If you can see objects far away but have difficulty seeing things that are closer, you may have hyperopia. This common vision problem occurs when your eyes cannot focus light properly on the retina and affects 5% to 10% of Americans.
People with farsightedness may see distant objects somewhat clearly, but close objects are so blurry that they can't complete simple tasks such as reading or writing without struggling to focus their eyes.
While genetics make up who we are in various ways, they also play a vital role in vision - including how well we can or cannot see naturally.
Let’s explore the tie between hyperopia and genetics in further detail.
What is Hyperopia?
Hyperopia is a common vision condition in which you can see distant objects clearly, but objects nearby appear blurry and out of focus.
This condition is caused by a cornea that isn't curved enough or an eyeball that's too short. These two problems prevent light from focusing directly on the retina as it should, leading to close-up blurred vision.
Farsightedness is usually present at birth and tends to run in families.
The easiest way to correct this condition is with prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. Another treatment option is surgery.
Symptoms
Hyperopia symptom severity and onset vary by person but often include:
- difficulty concentrating
- trouble maintaining a clear focus on close objects
- eye strain
- fatigue
- headaches, especially after trying to focus up close
- aching or burning eye
- irritability or nervousness after long periods of eye concentration
A Comprehensive Review of Hyperopia’s Prevalence in the United Kingdom
To evaluate the extent to which genetic factors are shared across refractive error categories, researchers performed genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and genetic risk score evaluations of:
- high myopia (HM)
- low myopia (LM)
- hyperopia
In the studies, individuals aged 40 to 69 living in the United Kingdom were recruited.
As for the GWAS of hyperopia, 10,828 cases and 21,416 emmetropias (the normal refractive condition of the eye) controls were analyzed.
In total, 11 variants met the most stringent threshold.1
This study suggests genetic variants with risk alleles associated with myopia were common in individuals with LM, even more common in those with HM, but less common in those with hyperopia.
The strengths are standardized phenotyping, while the GWAS analyses are modest.2
Risk scores with better predictive accuracy have been derived using larger samples.
These findings suggest that treatment intervention targeting common genetic risk variants associated with refractive error could be effective.
How Do I Know If My Genes Play a Role in Developing Hyperopia?
DNA analysis is one of the best ways to determine your genetic tendency for hyperopia or other vision issues.
A DNA testing kit is simple to use, and your genetic DNA testing results can reveal many answers to the questions you may have about your eyesight, even if you’ve already been diagnosed with a vision problem.
Once you’ve taken an at-home DNA test, you can use your raw DNA file to analyze your genetic profile further.
Simply sign in to the Genomelink dashboard to upload your DNA file, and our experts will do the rest. Set your sights on clearer vision and a clearer understanding of your genes; Unlock your full genetic potential today!
1Stringent threshold of P < 1 × 10−8 in the GWAS for HM vs. emmetropia, 4 for LM vs. emmetropia, 9 for hyperopia vs. emmetropia, and 22 for LM vs. hyperopia. These include rs12193446 in the LAMA2 gene, rs3138142 in the RDH5 gene, rs2969185 in the SHISA6 gene, rs1254319 in the C14orf39 gene, rs7042950 in the RORB gene, rs1110183 and rs10736319 in the RGR gene, rs9038 in the SEPTIN9 gene, rs219493, and rs11217547 for hyperopia GWAS. The rs12193446 also showed the association with LM and HM.
2Polygenic risk scores
