Learning More About: Farsightedness
What does it mean to show farsightedness? How is farsighted vision corrected?
Farsightedness: An Overview
Farsighted (also called hyperopia) is a term to describe an eye condition that lets you clearly see objects "far" or distant in your field of vision, while objects that are near appear blurry or hazy. Due to the nature of this type of vision problem, farsightedness can affect vision in different ways.
Farsightedness happens in eyes that are incorrectly focusing images behind the retina rather than directly on it. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the human eye responsible for processing images.
Farsighted vision is treated by helping the eyes focus images correctly on the retina, rather than behind it. This is done by prescribing eyeglasses, contact lenses or through a number of forms of surgery that help to reshape the surface of the eye.
Farsightedness Symptoms:
Symptoms of farsightedness include eyes that feel tired or strained, headaches, squinting and blurred vision, especially when viewing objects that are near. But symptoms can vary person to person based on the degree of farsighted vision; some may notice little visual impairment, while others may have blurred or hazy vision for objects at distance and nearby.
Farsighted vision can develop at any time, and happens in both children and adults. Farsightedness develops when the eyeball becomes "shorter" than it should be, moving the "focal point" of the images we see from on top of the retina, to behind the retina. Abnormalities in the eye’s lens or cornea can also cause farsighted vision.
Farsighted Diagnosis and Treatment:
Only an eyecare professional can accurately detect, diagnose and treat farsightedness. That’s why routine comprehensive eyecare exams are so important to maintaining healthy vision and healthy sight.
Farsighted vision is treated by helping the eyes focus images correctly on the retina, rather than behind it. This is done by prescribing eyeglasses, contact lenses or through a number of forms of surgery that help to reshape the surface of the eye.
Each treatment option has benefits and drawbacks that should be discussed completely with an eyecare professional.
The information seen here is for reference purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or to diagnose or prescribe any specific treatment(s). For all questions and concerns about your vision, eye health and potential eye problems, please consult an eyecare professional.
Special thanks to the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, for source material that aided in the creation of this website. Visit the NEI/NIH website.