Farsightedness

Alternate Names : Hyperopia, Hypermetropia

Farsightedness describes a decreased ability to see things that are close to the body.

What is going on in the body?

People with this condition have trouble seeing things that are close. This condition is the most common reason for reading glasses or bifocals. If this is the only vision problem an affected person has, he or she will be able to see far away objects without difficulty.

In young people, the focusing power of the eye is strong. Many younger people with mild cases of this condition can overcome the problem by intentionally focusing harder. As people get older, the focusing power of the eye decreases as a natural part of aging. This is why most farsighted people need bifocals or reading glasses around age 40 to 50.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

This condition occurs when light rays do not focus well on the back of the eye, which is where the brain detects images. This most commonly occurs in older people because the focusing power of the eye decreases. It can occur in younger people if the eye is too short for their focusing power.