A common refractive condition, farsightedness occurs when the eyes focus clearly on things in the distance but not on things up close. This condition is a common reason for glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery such as LASIK.
How Does the Eye Focus?
The eye is specifically designed to focus light onto the back of the eye, the retina.
The retina is responsible for collecting information and sending it back to the brain. This information comes in the form of light from objects or reflected from objects.
When light enters the eye, it first contacts the cornea and tear film which is the clear structure on the front of the eye.
The cornea bends light to go through the pupil and proceed into the back of the eye.
After the cornea and pupil, the crystalline lens acts as another focusing structure. It will bend light more to focus on a single point – the retina.
This process allows the eye to collect information and process it systematically.
What Causes Farsightedness?
If the focusing system of the eye is not aligned properly or is too weak, farsightedness can occur.
For instance, if the cornea and the crystalline lens are focusing light at a point behind the retina, the image will be blurry, and farsightedness will occur.
If the eye is too short for the relative power of the focusing system, the light will also fall behind the retina and therefore be blurry.
How Does Farsightedness Affect You?
Farsightedness may impact various aspects of daily life including reading, near tasks like sewing or cooking, as well as driving, or watching television.
The variety of impact is based on the amount of farsightedness. An individual who is only a little farsighted, a case where the focusing system focuses just behind the retina, may have no issues or symptoms.
However, if the farsightedness is a higher amount and the image falls further behind the retina, there may be more symptoms and blurry vision.
The eye can accommodate, or change the focus, to align the image onto the retina. This is why someone with a small magnitude of farsightedness may have no need for glasses and still see clearly.
Treatment Options for Hyperopia
To treat farsightedness, glasses and contact lenses are the most common first options.
Both glasses and contact lenses can alter the focusing of the light so that it will focus directly onto the retina.
Other potential options include refractive surgery such as LASIK, PRK, or SMiLE surgery. These surgeries are considered cosmetic and elective procedures by medical insurance and are not covered by the insurance plan.
Depending on the symptoms of farsightedness, there may be no treatment needed at all or glasses can be prescribed for use at near only.
With age, the symptoms of near blur are usually more dramatic and may require reading glasses or bifocals for correction.
How to Be Tested for Farsightedness
To get tested for farsightedness, schedule an eye exam with your eye doctor. At a routine eye exam, your doctor will perform a refraction to determine your potential glasses prescription.
In this exam, farsightedness can be detected and any necessary treatment can be initiated.