What is farsightedness?

Farsightedness or hyperopia is a refractive error that causes nearby objects to look blurry.
For normal vision, when light enters the eye:
- The cornea (the front of the eye) and the lens (an inner part of the eye that helps the eye focus) with curvature bend (refract) sharply focus the image directly on the surface of the retina (lining of the back of the eye containing light-sensing cells).
- The retina then sends a signal to the brain that allows seeing clearly.
Farsightedness occurs when the eye’s abnormally shaped cornea or lens focuses light behind the retina instead of on its surface. An individual with this condition may have one eye more farsighted than the other. People can typically see distant objects more clearly than close ones (reading or using a computer becomes difficult).
Farsightedness is a common vision abnormality or an eye-focusing disorder.
What causes farsightedness?
The cause of farsightedness is either of the following:
- The eye is not bending light properly
- Abnormal shape of the cornea or lens
- The eyeball could be shorter than normal (from front to back)
- The cornea has too little curvature
These problems make the eye focus light behind the retina, instead of on it, making nearby objects look blurry.
Hereditary factors (being born with the problem) and having other farsighted family members (first-degree relatives) can increase the risk significantly.
What are the signs and symptoms of farsightedness?
Most children with hyperopia do not have symptoms because of the flexibility of the lens, which makes accommodation (changing focus between distances) easier.
Common signs of hyperopia include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Trouble seeing close things
- Excess tearing
- Squinting
- Frequent blinking
- Difficulty keeping a clear focus on near objects
- Eye strain
- Fatigue
- Problems with hand-eye coordination
- Headache after close work or reading
- Aching or burning eyes
- Irritability or nervousness after sustained concentration
What are the other common refractive errors?
Other refractive errors include:
- Myopia (nearsightedness): A blurry appearance for distant objects occurring when the eyeball is longer than normal or the cornea is curved steeply.
- Astigmatism: Blurred distance and near visions occur when the cornea or lens is curved more steeply in one direction than it is in another.

SLIDESHOW
LASIK Eye Surgery: Better Vision with Laser Surgery See SlideshowHow is farsightedness diagnosed?
Apart from a refraction assessment and a routine eye health examination, the ophthalmologist (eye specialist) checks for farsightedness by conducting a comprehensive eye examination.
For younger children, the ophthalmologist may use a retinoscope to measure where light reaches inside the eye.
How is the treatment for farsightedness?
In mild cases of farsightedness, the most common treatments are eyeglasses or contact lenses. In moderate cases, a doctor often prescribes eyeglasses or contact lenses that alter the way the light enters the eyes, allowing the person to see close objects.
In severe cases, doctors can use surgery to treat farsightedness in adults. This surgery changes the shape of the cornea so that it can focus light optimally.
Refractive surgery
- Refractive laser surgery: A laser reshapes the cornea to adjust the light traveling through it.
- Laser in-situ keratomileusis
- Photorefractive keratectomy
- Refractive lens exchange: The natural lens is replaced with an intraocular lens (artificial lens) that helps correct farsightedness.
What are the complications of farsightedness?
Children with severe farsightedness are at an increased risk of developing other eye conditions, such as amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (eyes that are misaligned). Both conditions can lead to significant visual impairment.
Older adults may develop presbyopia (difficulty seeing things closely). Presbyopia occurs due to thickening and decreased flexibility of the lens of the eye as the person ages and the muscles surrounding the lens weaken.
Hyperopia (farsightedness). https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/hyperopia?sso=y
Farsightedness (Hyperopia). https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/farsightedness-hyperopia
Farsightedness: What Is Hyperopia? https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/hyperopia-farsightedness
Farsightedness. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/farsightedness/symptoms-causes/syc-20372495
Top Farsightedness Related Articles
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is an eye condition in which the cornea is abnormally curved and causes out-of-focus vision. Symptoms of astigmatism may include eye strain, squinting, eye fatigue, and headaches. Most astigmatism arises within the cornea although some forms occur in the lens. Astigmatism is diagnosed via a complete eye exam. Some cases of astigmatism can be treated with corrective eyewear. Astigmatism can also be treated with LASIK surgery.Cataracts Slideshow
Cataracts are a painless clouding of the internal lens of the eye. Learn about symptoms like blurry vision, glare and poor night vision, causes, treatment, and cataract surgery.Does Scar Revision Really Work?
Scar revision helps in making the scar less noticeable and more cosmetically appealing; however, it does not completely erase it. Scar revision is also useful in restoring a poorly healed scar. Scar revision may include both surgical and non-surgical techniques. Complications of scar revisions can be reduced by proper planning and physician’s experience.Double Vision (Diplopia)
Double vision (diplopia) is a symptom that my indicate Graves' disease, myasthenia gravis, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, diabetes, cataracts, aneurysm, brain tumor, or migraine. Symptoms and signs include eye pain, droopy eyelids, nausea, headache, and a cross-eyed appearance. Treatment of double vision depends upon the underlying cause.What Are the Types of Eye Care?
Many common eye disorders resolve without treatment and some may be managed with over-the-counter (OTC) products. It's important to visit a physician or ophthalmologist is the problem involves the eyeball itself or the condition hasn't improved after 72 hours of use of an OTC eye care product.Common Eye Problems
Eye diseases can cause damage and blindness if not treated soon enough. Learn the warning signs and symptoms of common eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, pink eye, macular degeneration and more.Vision as You Age
What are your eye problems? Conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, droopy eyelids, age-related macular degeneration, and other eye problems are more common with aging. Problems like floaters may become worse as well. An ophthalmologist can assess for eye diseases and address eye problem symptoms early to maximize the chance of a good outcome.Eye Mistakes You Might Be Making
You may be hurting your eyes and not even know it. Find out if you are and what you can do to stop it.Eye Strain
Eye strain is a symptom caused by looking at something for a long time. Symptoms and signs include redness, light sensitivity, headaches, and blurred vision. Symptoms may be treated by closing the eyes and taking a break from the visual task.Eyeglasses, Sunglasses, and Magnifying Glasses
Nonprescription eyeglasses are available over the counter (OTC) and are typically used by people who can no longer read fine print. OTC trifocals are helpful for those who require multiple distances or focal lengths for near and intermediate tasks. OTC sunglasses should offer 100% protection from the sun's UVA and UVB rays. OTC magnifying glasses are useful for viewing tiny objects or fine print.Farsightedness Picture
About one in four people in the U.S. have hyperopia or farsightedness, in which people have difficulty focusing on close objects. See a picture of Farsightedness and learn more about the health topic.Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a common eye condition in which the fluid pressure inside the eye rises because of slowed fluid drainage from the eye. If untreated, glaucoma may damage the optic nerve and other parts of the eye, causing the loss of vision or even blindness.LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) eye surgery is a procedure in which a laser is used beneath the corneal flap to reshape the cornea. This process is used to treat refractive errors, improve vision, and eliminate or reduce the need for contact lenses or glasses. LASIK eye surgery comes in three main types: conventional LASIK, wavefront-optimized LASIK, and wavefront-guided LASIK.LTK Laser Eye Surgery
LTK is a type of laser eye surgery that is used to treat farsightedness and astigmatism. The procedure involves using a laser to shrink and reshape the cornea. Potential side effects include sensitivity to light and the sensation of having a foreign object in the eye.Photorefractive Keratectomy
PRK is a type of laser eye surgery that is used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The procedure involves using a laser to reshape the cornea. Potential side effects include seeing a mirror glare, seeing mild halos, and loss of best vision achieved with glasses.