Farsightedness (hyperopia) is a vision condition that causes objects close up to appear blurry while distant objects are clearer. In some cases of farsightedness, distance vision may be blurred as well.
Read on to learn more about farsightedness, its symptoms, and how best to treat it.
What Does It Mean to Be Farsighted?
To explain why farsightedness happens, it’s useful to first look at an eye that has no refractive errors.
Normally, light enters the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens to a point on the surface of the retina in the back of your eye. The retina senses the light and passes information to the brain through the optic nerve, and the brain then interprets the information as images.
In an eye with farsightedness, the light doesn’t focus squarely onto the retina. Instead, it focuses on a point behind the retina, essentially overshooting it and causing issues with your near vision.
Typically, this misplacement occurs because the eyeball is too short in length or the cornea lacks a certain amount of curve.
Are There Other Names for Farsightedness?
Hyperopia is the medical term for farsightedness. It’s also known as hypermetropia—these terms can be used interchangeably.
In countries such as Britain and Australia, the term “long-sighted” is used more commonly than “farsighted.”
Like nearsightedness, farsightedness is a kind of refractive error that affects how the eye handles light. They’re both caused by light not landing quite where it should within the eye.
In an eye with nearsightedness, light is refracted so that it lands just short of the retina, resulting in poorer distance vision. Farsighted eyes focus light just past the retina, resulting in poorer near vision (and, in some severe cases, poorer distance vision, too). Perhaps that’s why hyperopia is sometimes thought of as the opposite of myopia.
Hyperopia vs. Presbyopia
Many people confuse hyperopia with presbyopia because their symptoms—mainly blurred vision when viewing close objects—are so similar. But the two conditions have different root causes and aren’t the same thing.
Presbyopia occurs as the lens of the eye becomes less flexible with age. The muscles around the lens, which also weaken as you grow older, have a harder time moving it, and tasks requiring close-up vision become tougher. (Presbyopia is the main reason why many folks over 40 need reading glasses.)
Hyperopia Symptoms
If you think you may have farsightedness, check for the following hyperopia symptoms:
Headaches, especially after doing tasks that require close-up vision, such as reading or computer work
Frequent squinting
Trouble with accurate depth perception
If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms of farsightedness (or any eye-related issues), schedule an eye exam with an optometrist. They’ll be able to tell you if you’re farsighted and how to correct the issue.
Scientists don’t know exactly what causes farsightedness, but it seems to have a genetic component. You’re more likely to be farsighted if your parents are, too.
Fun fact: most infants are actually born with mild farsightedness and then proceed to grow out of it as their eyes develop and lengthen. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, by the time they turn 1, only 4% of children have hyperopia.
Young children with mild hyperopia often don’t experience any symptoms because their growing eyes can self-correct the refractive error and prevent blurry vision.
However, if they have moderate to severe farsightedness, it will probably cause problems with near vision. Left untreated, these children may also develop other eye problems, such as strabismus (“eye turn”) or amblyopia (“lazy eye”).
How Do You Test for Hyperopia?
Your optometrist can diagnose hyperopia during a standard eye exam.
You’ll first be asked to read letters on a chart (called a Snellen chart) with no corrective lenses helping your eyes. Then you’ll probably look through a machine called a phoropter, which has several different lenses attached. The doctor will place a series of lenses in front of your eyes and ask which ones make it easier to read the chart.
They may also use other tools, such as a retinoscope, to nail down your prescription. This tool shines a light into your eye so the doctor can see how it’s reflected and further refine your prescription’s strength.
If you have hyperopia, you’ll notice a + sign in front of the numbers on your prescription (for example, +3.50).
A comprehensive eye exam is the best way to figure out whether you’re farsighted or not—other types of testing may not account for this refractive error. Vision tests administered to children in schools, for example, often can’t detect hyperopia because they tend to focus on distance vision over near vision.
This is one reason why it’s so important to have regular eye exams at every stage of life!
Hyperopia Treatment
If farsightedness is affecting your vision and quality of life, you have multiple treatment options.
Prescription Glasses
Eyeglasses correct farsightedness with prescription lenses set in the frames of your choice. The lenses help light to focus directly on the retina rather than behind it, making your near vision crisp and clear (and your fashion sense sophisticated).
Depending on the severity of your farsightedness, you may need to wear your glasses all the time or only as needed.
Prescription Contact Lenses
Prescription contact lenses treat farsightedness in the same way that glasses do, only they’re worn right on top of the surface of your eye. For many people, contacts are a convenient and comfortable option that allows you to “forget” you’re wearing corrective lenses (until it’s time to take them out, of course).
Contacts are typically changed daily, biweekly, or monthly, depending on the type of contacts you purchase. They require their own prescription and fitting from your eye doctor, so make sure to ask about them at your exam if you think they might be right for you.
Some people with hyperopia opt for surgical procedures, such as LASIK and PRK. These surgeries reshape the cornea at the front of the eye to correct the refractive error and should only be performed by a qualified ophthalmologist.
Although many people are satisfied with the results of their surgery, it’s definitely the most pricey hyperopia treatment.
Farsightedness Complications
Living with hyperopia usually doesn’t present many complications as long as you seek out the proper care. In children, leaving hyperopia untreated can lead to further vision problems and even difficulty learning in school. So, getting an accurate diagnosis from an eye doctor is of the utmost importance.
Have Hyperopia? Have Hope!
Although it’s less common than nearsightedness, farsightedness is still a widespread refractive error with multiple treatment options.
If you’re farsighted, your eye doctor can direct you to the best next steps, whether it’s glasses, contacts, or enormous books meant to be read from 10 feet away (they won’t recommend that last one, we promise). Book an eye exam today to find out what works best for you.
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