Farsightedness (Hyperopia)
Farsighted doesn’t mean you see far well.
Farsightedness (hyperopia) happens when the eye is a little too short, so light focuses behind the retina. The eye’s focusing muscle can make up the difference, especially in young people, which is why farsightedness so often goes unnoticed.
That constant extra focusing has a cost: tired eyes, headaches and blur with reading, and in young children, eye turns and lazy eye. Hidden farsightedness is one of the most commonly missed vision problems.
Signs of farsightedness
- Eye strain, aching or burning eyes, and headaches after reading or screens
- Close work that blurs after a few minutes
- Avoiding reading or losing concentration with homework
- In more farsighted people, blur at all distances
- In toddlers: an eye that starts to turn in
Farsightedness in children
Most babies are born a little farsighted, and that usually lessens as the eye grows. But a moderate or high amount, or a big difference between the two eyes, can cause trouble:
- Accommodative esotropia: the extra focusing pulls the eyes inward. Glasses often straighten the eyes completely. See eye turns.
- Amblyopia (lazy eye), especially when one eye is much more farsighted. See lazy eye.
- Reading discomfort that can look like an attention problem. See vision and learning.
Children can “pass” the eye chart by focusing harder, so school screenings often miss farsightedness.
Farsightedness in adults
The focusing muscle gradually loses strength with age. Farsightedness that was hidden for years often shows up in the 30s and 40s as eye strain, trouble reading and, later, blurry distance vision too. Many people first notice it as needing more light to read or tired eyes at the end of the workday.
Farsightedness vs. presbyopia
Farsighted people often notice presbyopia earlier, because their focusing reserve was already being used.
How we find hidden farsightedness
Because the eye can mask farsightedness by focusing, measuring it accurately sometimes requires dilating (cycloplegic) drops that temporarily relax the focusing muscle. This is routine for young children with eye turns, reading complaints or a family history, and it’s how we find the full prescription a child actually needs.
Correction options
- Glasses: full time for some children; for reading and close work for others
- Contact lenses, including multifocal designs for adults who also have presbyopia
- Progressive or computer lenses for adults with both. See progressive lenses and computer glasses.
- Refractive surgery for some adults, with co-management.
Common questions
What is farsightedness?
Farsightedness (hyperopia) is a focusing error where the eye is slightly too short, so light focuses behind the retina. The eye can compensate by focusing harder, which often causes eye strain, headaches and blur with close work.
Can a child pass a vision screening and still be farsighted?
Yes. Children can focus extra hard to read the chart, so screenings often miss farsightedness. An exam with dilating drops reveals the full amount.
Can farsightedness cause crossed eyes?
Yes. In accommodative esotropia, the extra focusing effort pulls the eyes inward. The right glasses often straighten the eyes completely.
Is farsightedness the same as presbyopia?
No. Farsightedness comes from the eye’s shape and can be present at any age. Presbyopia is the natural loss of focusing flexibility that starts around 40. Many adults have both.
What does a plus number on my prescription mean?
A plus sphere (SPH), such as +1.50, means you are farsighted. The larger the number, the more farsighted.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Christopher Tumolo, O.D., L.D.O. · Last reviewed
Sources
- National Eye Institute: Farsightedness (Hyperopia)
- American Academy of Ophthalmology: What Is Farsightedness?
- American Optometric Association: Hyperopia
- AAPOS: Accommodative Esotropia
This page is general education, not a diagnosis. Same-day appointments are available during office hours.