Farsightedness

A common vision disease in which distant objects are seen clearly while near ones are blurry is called farsightedness. Moreover, the farsightedness degree affects the focusing ability. For instance, in severe cases, people are able to see clearly the objects that are located quite far while people with mild farsightedness can see clearly the objects that are closer.

This vision disease usually is present at birth (congenital) and tends to run in families. However, it is easy to correct the vision with eyeglasses or contact lenses. Another way to treat the condition is surgery.

Symptoms

People with this vision condition usually experience the following symptoms. Examples include:

• Objects that are closer to you appear blurred or you need to squint to see clearly
• Eyestrain (such as burning eyes, aching in or around the eyes, and others)
• Eye discomfort
• Headaches

It is advised to see a doctor if vision problems interact with your daily routine. He/she may determine the severity of the condition and recommend the best option to correct the vision. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, you should perform eye examinations in the following intervals. For example:

Adults

If you are at increased risk of developing eye diseases (such as glaucoma), it is advised to have an eye examination every 1-2 years beginning at 40 years old. However, people without risks of eye disease and who do not wear glasses or contact lenses should perform eye examinations at the following intervals. For example:

• First one at 40
• Every 2-4 years between 40 and 54 years old
• Every 1-3 years between 55 and 64 years old
• Each year beginning with 65 years old

People with vision problems who wear glasses and contact lenses should have vision examinations regularly. Furthermore, if you experience vision problems, you should immediately visit a doctor, even if you have checked your vision recently. For example, blurred vision may indicate another health condition.

Children and Adolescents

Screening for eye disease in adolescents and children should be done at the following intervals. For example:

• 6 months of age
• 3 years old
• Thereafter, every 2 years during school years

Causes

Generally, the eyes have two parts that focus the images we see. For example:

• The cornea is the dome-shaped front surface of the eye
• The lens also helps focus the image. The lens is a clear structure approximately the shape and size of an M&M’s candy.

In normal circumstances, these focusing elements have perfectly smooth curvature such as the surface of a marble.

Refractive Error

When the lens and cornea are not evenly and smoothly curved, the light is not refracted correctly (also called a refractive error). Therefore, farsightedness often happens when the eyeball is shorter than usual or the cornea is curved too little and the effect caused by this vision condition is the opposite of the nearsightedness. Check below other refractive errors:

• Myopia (nearsightedness) – Commonly, this condition occurs when the eyeball is longer than usual or the cornea is curved too steeply. As a result, people with nearsightedness will notice the blurry appearance of far objects.
• Astigmatism – In such cases, the condition happens because of cornea or lens that are curved more in one direction than another. If the condition is not treated, it causes blurred vision.

Complications

Usually, this vision disease is associated with multiple problems. Examples include:

• Crossed eyes – Sometimes, this complication may occur in children but it can be easily fixed with specific eyeglasses used to treat farsightedness.
• Decreased quality of life – The symptoms of this vision condition may interact with your daily activities.
• Eyestrain – Untreated farsightedness may lead to squinting or straining the eyes to maintain focus, which may cause headaches.
• Impaired safety
• Financial burden – However, eye examination, corrective lenses, and medical treatment may be expensive, especially if you have a chronic disease such as farsightedness.

Diagnosis

In most cases, farsightedness is diagnosed by performing a refraction assessment and an eye examination. Furthermore, refraction assessments also are used to diagnose other vision problems including astigmatism, nearsightedness, or presbyopia. In some cases, physicians may put some drops in your eye to dilate the pupils needed for an eye examination. These drops make your eyes more sensitive to light for a few hours.

Treatment

The treatment goal is to recover the eye’s ability to focus images by using corrective contact lenses or refractive surgery.

Prescription Lenses

Commonly, young people do not require these prescription lenses because the crystalline lenses are enough flexible to compensate for the condition. However, these lenses lose their flexibility with aging and doctors may recommend some prescription lenses to improve the near vision.

Prescription lenses work by counteracting the reduced curvature of the cornea or the smaller eye size. Check below some prescription lenses types:

• Eyeglasses – This is the simplest way to correct your vision. There are multiple eyeglass lenses including single vision, bi- and trifocals, and progressive multifocal.
• Contact lenses – This lens type is worn directly on the eyes. If you are not sure what option is best for you, discuss it with your healthcare professional.

Refractive Surgery

While most refractive interventions are used to treat nearsightedness, some of them can be used in mild and moderate farsightedness treatment. The following procedures treat the condition by reshaping the cornea curvature. Check below some examples:

• LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) – This surgery involves thin-hinged flaps and a laser that corrects the cornea curves. It helps treat farsightedness.
• LASEK (laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy) – This procedure also involves a laser that reshapes the cornea but before using it, surgeons will make an ultra-thin flap in the epithelium (the outer protective cover of the cornea).
• PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) – This surgery is very similar to LASEK but this procedure involves removal of the epithelium completely. However, it is not replaced with a new one but it grows back naturally.

If you experience adverse reactions after refractive surgery, it is advised to inform your healthcare professional right away.

Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes

The following tips may help reduce the symptoms of farsightedness and prevent complications. For example:

• Have eye examinations regularly
• Manage your chronic health problems including hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, and others
• Wear sunglasses to protect the eyes from the ultraviolet (UV) radiation
• It is advised to wear protective eyewear when playing sports, mowing the lawn, painting, or using toxic products.
• Adopt a healthy diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens.
• Quit smoking or never start

Frequently Asked Questions

Can farsightedness be cured?

However, this farsightedness (also caked hyperopia) cannot be cured naturally, but glasses, lenses, or surgery can treat the condition.

What are the primary symptoms of farsightedness?

• Eye pain
• Blurred vision
• Crossed eyes (strabismus)
• Eye strain
• Headaches, especially while reading or writing

If you experience any of the previous symptoms, do not hesitate to visit a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

What are the potential complications of farsightedness?

These include:

• Lazy eye (also called amblyopia)
• Impaired safety
• Vision loss (blindness)

Consult with your doctor about ways to prevent farsightedness complications. Ask your healthcare provider if you have additional questions.