# What Does H52.0 Hypermetropia Mean?

Source page: https://www.kudretgozistanbul.com/en/blog/eye-diseases/h52-0-hypermetropia-meaning

**Author:** Kudret Eye İstanbul | **Medical Approval:** Op. Dr. Mehmet Ali Özdil | **Date:** 2026-10-05

> **Summary:** H52.0 is the ICD-10 diagnosis code for hypermetropia (hyperopia or farsightedness), a refractive error in which light entering the eye focuses behind the retina; it is not a disease. With mild hypermetropia distance vision is usually clear while near objects look blurry; as the prescription increases, distance vision becomes blurry too.

## Quick Facts
- **Code:** H52.0 in the World Health Organization's ICD-10
- **Eye examination:** Takes 15-30 minutes
- **Laser treatment:** For prescriptions up to +5 (depending on the method), from the age of 18
- **Lens options:** Also considered after 45
- **Routine eye exams (adults without complaints):** Every 2 years until 40, once a year after 40

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## What the H52.0 Code Means
If H52.0 appears on your prescription or a medical report, your eye doctor has found hypermetropia. The code records the diagnosis only: it does not say whether the prescription is high or low, or whether one or both eyes are affected. The actual prescription is written separately.

## The H52 Codes
In ICD-10, H52 covers disorders of refraction and accommodation. Each refractive error has its own code, and a prescription may list more than one.

| Code | Meaning |
| :--- | :--- |
| H52.0 | Hypermetropia (farsightedness) |
| H52.1 | Myopia (nearsightedness) |
| H52.2 | Astigmatism |
| H52.3 | Anisometropia and aniseikonia (a marked difference in prescription or image size between the two eyes) |
| H52.4 | Presbyopia |

## What Hypermetropia Is
- Light rays focus behind the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye.
- Close-up tasks such as reading, writing or computer work are often tiring. School-age children may tire quickly while reading, rub their eyes or have difficulty concentrating.
- Genetics play the biggest role. The most common form is axial hypermetropia (eye shorter from front to back than it should be); less often, a flatter cornea or changes in the focusing power of the natural lens.

## Symptoms
Mild hypermetropia, especially in younger people, may cause few symptoms at first. Typical symptoms:
- Blurry vision at near
- Squinting without realising it to focus
- Aching or burning eyes during the day
- Eye strain and headaches during long reading, writing, computer work or drawing
- Frequent blinking
- A feeling of dry eyes
- In some people, red or watery eyes

Children may not be able to describe symptoms, so their eyes should be checked regularly once they start school. High hypermetropia left uncorrected can lead to a lazy eye (amblyopia) and, in some children, an inward turning eye.

## Diagnosis
The doctor listens to your concerns, measures the prescription with an autorefractor and confirms it with trial lenses to find the sharpest and most comfortable lens. In children and young people, the focusing muscle can hide part of the hypermetropia, so the measurement may be repeated after drops that temporarily relax it. The examination takes 15-30 minutes.

## Treatment
- Glasses or contact lenses are usually the first option.
- With a stable prescription, laser treatment can be considered from the age of 18, for prescriptions up to +5 (depending on the method); iLASIK is one of the methods offered at Kudret Eye İstanbul.
- After the age of 45, lens options are also considered. The doctor decides after a full examination.

| | Glasses | Contact lenses |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Touching the eye | Less need to touch the eyes, which also lowers the risk of eye infection | Careful cleaning and hygiene are essential; less convenient than glasses |
| Dryness | No risk of contact lens related dryness or sensitivity | Wearing lenses longer than recommended can cause dryness and redness |
| Weather and surroundings | Offer some protection against wind and dust | No fogging up in cold weather |
| Sport | Can fall off or break | More practical for people who play sport often |
| Side vision | The frame can slightly limit side vision | No frame, so side vision is not restricted |
| Cost | Usually lower | Lenses and solutions need to be bought regularly |

## Understanding Your Prescription
A prescription is usually valid for two years.
- **Sphere (SPH):** Main correction for short- or long-sightedness. Minus (−) means difficulty seeing far, plus (+) difficulty up close; the larger the number, the stronger the prescription.
- **Cylinder (CYL):** Correction for astigmatism (a cornea that is not perfectly round blurs vision in one direction). Blank means no astigmatism.
- **Axis:** Direction of the astigmatism, an angle between 0 and 180 degrees; it only tells which way the cylinder correction is applied.
- **Addition (ADD):** Extra power for near vision, usually needed after 40 for reading; added on top of the distance prescription and usually the same for both eyes.
- **Prism:** Helps the eyes align; only present for double vision or a squint, blank on most prescriptions.

## Hypermetropia vs Presbyopia
Hypermetropia is caused by the shape of the eye and can occur at any age (H52.0). Presbyopia is the age-related loss of flexibility in the natural lens, usually beginning in your 40s (H52.4). Both make near vision difficult, so they are often confused; people with hypermetropia usually notice near problems earlier and more strongly at presbyopia age.

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## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What does the H52.0 diagnosis code mean?**
A: It is the ICD-10 code for hypermetropia. It shows hypermetropia has been found, not how strong the prescription is.

**Q: What is the difference between H52.0 and H52.4?**
A: H52.0 is hypermetropia, a refractive error at any age; H52.4 is presbyopia (age-related difficulty seeing up close), usually appearing in your 40s. A person can have both.

**Q: Does hypermetropia affect distance vision?**
A: With mild hypermetropia distance vision is usually clear; as the prescription increases it becomes blurry too.

**Q: Can hypermetropia be corrected with laser surgery?**
A: Yes, for prescriptions up to +5 (depending on the method), after the age of 18. After 45, lens options are also considered. Suitability is decided after an examination.

**Q: Can hypermetropia cause a lazy eye in children?**
A: Uncorrected hypermetropia that is high, or very different between the eyes, can. Early detection and glasses lower the risk, so an eye examination before school age is important.

**Q: Does hypermetropia get worse with age?**
A: Most babies are born slightly hypermetropic and this usually decreases as they grow. In adults the prescription often stays stable for years, but after your 40s focusing power declines, so previously unnoticed hypermetropia may appear and the need for glasses may increase.

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## References
- World Health Organization (WHO): ICD-10, H52 disorders of refraction and accommodation
- American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO): patient information on hyperopia
- National Eye Institute (NEI): Farsightedness (Hyperopia)