What is farsightedness?

People who are farsighted can see clearly objects that are far away, but they have trouble seeing objects up close. If you are farsighted, close objects may be so blurry that you can't do tasks such as reading or sewing.

This common vision problem is also called hyperopia.

See a picture of what a farsighted eye sees.

Around middle age, your eyes begin to lose the ability to focus on close objects. This vision problem is called presbyopia. It makes being farsighted a more obvious problem.

What causes farsightedness?

Farsightedness occurs when your eye is too short lengthwise and does not bend light correctly. This causes an image to focus behind the retina instead of directly on it, so the image is blurry.

See a picture of how an eye with farsightedness focuses.

Farsightedness often starts in early childhood. But normal growth corrects the problem. If a child is still a bit farsighted when the eye has stopped growing (at around 9 years of age), the eye can usually adjust to make up for the problem. This allows the child to see clearly. But as we age, our eyes can no longer adjust as well, and farsightedness becomes more obvious.

Farsightedness often runs in families. In rare cases, some diseases such as retinopathy and eye tumors can lead to farsightedness. So can a problem with the lens of the eye.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of farsightedness can include:

• Blurred vision, especially at night.
• Trouble seeing objects up close.
• Aching eyes, eyestrain, and headaches.

Children with this problem may have no symptoms. A child with more severe farsightedness may:

• Have headaches.
• Rub his or her eyes often.
• Have trouble reading or show little interest in reading.

Farsightedness also increases the risk for crossed eyes (strabismus). If your child has crossed eyes, call an eye specialist (ophthalmologist or optometrist).

How is farsightedness diagnosed?

Your doctor can tell if you are farsighted by doing an eye exam. He or she will also ask about your past health.

For young children who may have trouble with a normal test, the doctor may use a special camera to make a film or video of the eyes. This is called photoscreening.

During the exam, your doctor may use eyedrop medicine that makes the pupil larger and prevents focusing. This allows the doctor to better examine the eye.

How is it treated?

Mild farsightedness often doesn't need treatment. Your eyes can usually adjust to make up for the problem. But as you age, your eyes can't adjust as well, and you will need eyeglasses or contact lenses. Glasses or contact lenses can also help if your farsightedness is more than a mild problem.

Surgery may be an option in some cases. For severe farsightedness, surgery can also replace the clear lens of your eye with an implanted lens.

Frequently Asked Questions