Farsightedness

Farsightedness, or hyperopia, causes eye vision to distort and blur when seeing objects up close. It usually happens because of a misshapen eyeball, where the cornea is too flat and short. This causes light to focus improperly on the retina.

In addition to blurry vision for things up close, symptoms of farsightedness include headaches, eye squinting, and feeling tired when having to focus on objects up close for prolonged periods.

Regular eye exams and checkups with your eye doctor can help in the early detection of refractive errors, such as farsightedness. Proper detection can help prevent vision loss and other complications. Treatment options include refractive corrections, such as prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses, and lens insertion surgery.

Symptoms of Farsightedness

Symptoms of farsightedness may include the following:

Difficulty seeing objects up close
Faraway items seem clear
Headache and fatigue
Squinting
Feeling tired when reading or doing close work for long periods

Farsightedness Complications

People with farsightedness can develop complications or correlated eye conditions if left untreated. These include the following:

Crossed eyes: This condition is also known as strabismus and involves nerve injury or a malfunction in the muscles that control the eyes. It is characterized by eyes that do not look in the same direction at the same time.
Eyestrain: Refractive errors can lead to a squint or strain the eyes in order to maintain focus. Doing this for prolonged periods can cause headaches and fatigue.
Impaired safety: Untreated refractive error, such as farsightedness, could potentially harm your safety and that of others, whether by driving or managing dangerous equipment.

Causes of Farsightedness

Your eye works similarly to a camera, where the cornea and lens focus on the light that objects reflect to form images. The cornea is the dome-shaped surface in the front part of your eye, and the lens is inside the eye. This structure bends the light that passes through the pupil to focus the image.

The cornea and lens have a curved surface to refract light in a healthy eye. For a farsighted person, eyeballs tend to be shorter than usual and the cornea is not curved enough to allow light to pass through.

Diagnosis of Farsightedness

Refractive errors, such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism can be diagnosed by performing a comprehensive eye exam and multiple tests to determine the health state of your vision. This typically includes:

A visual acuity test that measures your vision at different distances.
A dilated eye exam that involves eye drops to dilate and examine your pupils.
A slit-lamp exam uses a bright light microscope to examine the cornea, iris, and lens.
A refractive test that involves looking through a series of lenses to determine the right prescription to correct your refractive condition.

Treatment for Farsightedness

Multiple options are available for refractive corrections. are available, This includes prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, and lens insertion surgery.

The best approach for your case of farsightedness will depend on your individual needs and lifestyle. Talking to your doctor and performing regular eye exams will ensure you choose the best refractive treatment for your condition. Options may include:

Prescription eyeglasses: Bifocal and progressive lenses can help correct near vision problems.
Contact lenses: Multifocal contact lenses, just like eyeglasses, can help correct vision problems. This is a commonly chosen option for people who do not want to wear frames.
Surgery: For people who do not want to wear prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses and whose vision problems require it, surgical procedures like implanting an artificial lens may be appropriate.
Vision therapy: To improve the ability to focus, your eye doctor can also provide specific vision exercises.

Farsightedness Treatment in New York

EyesNY offers treatment to help patients treat farsightedness. Our specialized team of ophthalmologists is ready to assess your needs and give you the high-quality vision care you deserve.

We work with cutting-edge technology to identify the root cause of your condition and create personalized treatment plans. Our caring staff is ready to welcome you and meet your ocular health and vision needs.

Our comprehensive eye care services include routine and medical eye exams to perform prescription tests.

If you’d like a consultation or more information, call us or request an appointment online. You can also visit any of our clinic locations around New York, including Malta, Clifton Park, Troy, Saratoga Springs, and Queensbury.