Clear, crisp vision is essential for many activities, but if you’re farsighted, your vision can be altered, sometimes dramatically. Farsightedness affects millions of Americans, making it difficult to see objects close up, which means it can be hard to read, use a computer or phone, or do other tasks that require near focus.
Knowing what symptoms farsightedness causes and when the condition is more likely to occur can help you get treatment early to continue enjoying the best vision possible.
The team at Long Island Ophthalmic Concepts in Bellmore, Great Neck, and Huntington, New York, offers comprehensive eye exams to diagnose farsightedness and treatments to correct your vision. Here, learn when and why farsightedness occurs, along with treatment options to restore clear sight.
Like nearsightedness (myopia) and astigmatism, farsightedness is a refractive vision error, which means it changes how light is refracted (or “bent”) as it passes through your eye. These changes happen because of abnormalities in the shape of one or more parts of your eye.
In people who are farsighted, the depth or “roundness” of the eye is shorter or flatter than usual, or the clear cornea at the front of the eye is slightly misshapen. When these measurements are even a little abnormal, it affects how light hits the retina at the back of your eye, distorting images and making them blurry.
People who are hyperopic typically have problems seeing things up close, while objects at a distance are clearer. Vision issues can be accompanied by headaches or eye strain. Fortunately, like other refractive errors, farsightedness can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery.
Hyperopia can be congenital, which means children can be born farsighted. Hyperopia can also develop during childhood as the eye develops and grows. Regular eye exams during childhood are essential for diagnosing farsightedness early before it interferes with learning or socializing.
But farsightedness can also begin as we get older. In fact, many people become farsighted when they reach middle age due to age-related changes in the eye. This type of farsightedness is called presbyopia (literally “old eye”).
Presbyopia happens when the lens of the eye gets stiffer and less responsive. These changes alter how light hits the retina at the back of your eye.
While presbyopia and hyperopia are technically different types of vision problems, they have similar symptoms. If you have presbyopia, you’ve probably noticed that it’s harder to read or your phone screen is looking blurry. You might need to hold objects farther away to see them clearly.
Regardless of when farsightedness occurs, there’s no denying that it can take a big toll on your quality of life. For kids, untreated hyperopia can lead to problems at school, difficulties in social situations, and low self-esteem. For adults, presbyopia can interfere with many activities in daily living, including duties at work.
Fortunately, our team can treat farsightedness no matter when it occurs using eyeglasses or contact lenses. For adults, refractive surgery may be an effective option for “reshaping” the cornea and improving clear vision.
Farsightedness can be diagnosed with a comprehensive eye exam, so our team can rule out other potential problems that can cause similar issues. To find a solution for your blurry vision, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Long Island Ophthalmic Concepts today.
