Farsightedness
Briefly about farsightedness:
- Farsightedness causes difficulty seeing clearly, especially at close range, but also at a distance.
- Objects close by may appear blurred, and one may feel the need to squint in order to focus.
- Farsightedness occurs when the eye is too short relative to its optical power, which means that the image of the surroundings is formed behind the retina.
- There are fewer people with severe farsightedness than with severe nearsightedness.
- Approximately one in ten people aged 20–25 and about one in six aged 40–45 are farsighted.
What is farsightedness?
The term farsightedness can be misleading, as farsighted people do not see better at a distance than people with normal vision. By using the eye’s ability to accommodate, a farsighted person can bring the image onto the retina and thus see clearly at a distance. With additional accommodation, it is also possible to see clearly at close range.
With age, however, it becomes more difficult to read at short distances because the need for accommodation exceeds the lens’s ability to refract light. This creates a need for glasses. Later, problems with seeing clearly at a distance may also arise, which likewise require correction.
What causes farsightedness?
Farsightedness is caused by the eye being too short in relation to its refractive power. As a result, the eye cannot bend light sufficiently for the image to focus on the retina.
When an object comes closer, the eye attempts to compensate by making the lens more rounded (accommodation). At some point, however, this is no longer sufficient, and the image is instead formed behind the retina.
Symptoms of farsightedness
Farsightedness causes difficulty seeing clearly, especially at close range, but also at a distance.
Objects close by may appear blurred, and one may feel the need to squint in order to focus. The first signs are often tired eyes, soreness around the eyes, or headaches in the forehead after prolonged reading, writing, or other close-up work.
How is farsightedness diagnosed?
An optician or ophthalmologist can determine farsightedness if vision improves with the use of glasses with positive power (plus lenses).
Treatment and correction
Farsightedness can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.
During cataract surgery, the artificial lens can be customized to also correct farsightedness.
Surgery
It has been possible for many years to operate on refractive errors in the eye. The methods have been continuously improved, and today modern laser technology is primarily used.
Farsightedness in children and adolescents
In children, the symptoms may be different. Strabismus (crossed eyes) is a common sign, and if farsightedness is not treated by around six years of age, the child may develop a lazy eye (amblyopia). In severe cases, vision may never become normal. Therefore, it is important that children are examined by an ophthalmologist if vision problems are suspected.
Early detection and treatment are crucial to ensure normal visual development and to avoid permanent visual impairment.
When should you contact an ophthalmologist?
You should have your vision examined if:
- You experience blurred distance vision
- You have persistent headaches
- Your current glasses or contact lens correction no longer works optimally, or you experience eye strain
- Your child complains about vision problems
Early intervention provides the best chances for good and stable vision.