Some of the customers who visit our store in Kemalpasa arrive with an interesting complaint. They read distant signs and traffic boards with ease, yet the letters blur when they open a book or glance at their phone, and their eyes tire quickly. On this side of Izmir we meet this pattern often, and it usually turns out to be farsightedness. People sometimes confuse it with age related reading trouble, but farsightedness is a refractive error that can show up at any age and may even begin in childhood.
Farsightedness, also called hyperopia, roughly means seeing distant objects clearly while near objects stay blurred, and in most ways it behaves as the mirror image of myopia. Its early signs can be easy to overlook, because the eye strains for a while and makes up for the blur on its own. Below we walk through the cause of this refractive error, its symptoms and how it is corrected, using everyday examples.
What Is Farsightedness and Why Does It Happen
Farsightedness is a refractive error that shows itself when the eye sees distant objects sharply but near objects as blurred. In a healthy eye, light passes through the cornea and the lens and focuses right on the retina, so the image comes out clear. In a farsighted eye the eyeball is shorter than normal, or the focusing power of the lens falls short, so light tries to focus behind the retina. That small focusing gap creates a clear blur, especially for nearby objects.
As a result the near image never fully sharpens, and the eye works extra hard all the time to compensate. At young ages the eye can hide the problem for a while thanks to this added effort. Low degree farsightedness can therefore progress unnoticed for a long time. As the degree rises, both near and distance vision start to suffer.
Is Farsightedness the Opposite of Myopia
In short yes, farsightedness is in most ways the opposite of myopia. In myopia the eye sees distance blurred and near sharp. In farsightedness the reverse holds, and the trouble appears mostly at close range. We explained how myopia works and how its degree is measured earlier in our myopia guide.
The most practical way to tell the two apart is the sign of the prescription. Myopia is corrected with a minus (-) prescription, while farsightedness is corrected with a plus (+) prescription. Plus lenses gather light toward the retina and let the near image come into focus. This is also why the lenses in farsightedness glasses have a different shape from myopia lenses.
How to Recognize Farsightedness Symptoms
The clearest sign of farsightedness is the strain felt at close range. When reading a book, looking at a phone or doing fine work such as sewing, the letters blur and the eyes tire fast. Many people push the reading distance farther without realizing it and squint to catch some sharpness. This strain, which grows toward the end of the day, is the first hint that pushes most people to consider glasses.
There are other common signs alongside these. If you notice several of the signs below together, the chance of farsightedness rises.
- Headache and a heavy feeling across the forehead after close work
- Burning, redness and watering in the eyes
- Brief blur after long reading
- Eye fatigue that builds toward evening
- Reluctance to read and loss of focus in children
These signs can overlap with other eye problems or plain daily tiredness. A firm answer needs an eye exam and a prescription measurement. Rather than reading the signs on your own, having them measured is always the safer choice.
Who Is More Likely to Have Farsightedness
Farsightedness is usually present from birth, and family tendency plays an important part here. If a mother or father is farsighted, the chance of it appearing in the child rises. Most children are born with a mild degree of farsightedness, and as the eye grows this often eases on its own. That is why not every child needs glasses, and the decision comes only after an exam.
In some people this easing is not enough, and farsightedness carries on into adulthood. At older ages the lens of the eye loses its flexibility, and near vision trouble can become even more pronounced. At this point farsightedness can overlap with presbyopia, the age related near vision error. Once near vision complaints begin, a check is worthwhile whatever the age.
Farsightedness in Children and Adults
Farsightedness can run a different course in children and adults. Because focusing power and the structure of the eye change markedly between these two periods, it makes sense to weigh the two groups separately.
Farsightedness in Children
In children farsightedness often progresses quietly, because the young eye compensates for the blur for a while with its high focusing power. Yet if high degree farsightedness is left untreated it can lead to a crossed eye or to one eye becoming lazy. Regular eye checks before and during school years are therefore valuable for a child's health. Farsightedness caught early is usually managed comfortably with glasses.
Farsightedness in Adults
In adults focusing power falls with age, so a hidden farsightedness becomes more obvious. After the forties in particular, trouble with near reading and rising fatigue at the computer come to the front. As the hours spent with near screens grow, this strain is felt even more. A correctly prescribed pair of glasses reduces this fatigue in a visible way.
How Is Farsightedness Corrected
The most common solution for farsightedness is plus prescription lenses. These lenses gather light onto the retina and bring the near image into focus. At low degrees glasses may be advised only for reading, and at high degrees for constant use. When the prescription is high, thin and light lenses lift daily comfort in a clear way.
Glasses or Contact Lenses
Besides glasses, contact lenses are also a good option for suitable people. Which method fits you depends on the strength of your prescription, your age and your daily habits. People who play sport or would rather not wear glasses often prefer lenses. If you are thinking about lenses, you can ask us about our contact lens service.
For those looking for a permanent solution, surgical methods such as laser may also come up. That decision, however, rests entirely on the eye doctor's assessment. The best choice becomes clear after an eye exam.
Are Farsightedness and Presbyopia the Same
Farsightedness and presbyopia are sometimes mixed up, because both make near vision harder. The core difference lies in why they appear. Farsightedness relates mostly to an eye structure present from birth, while presbyopia develops with age as the lens of the eye stiffens. So farsightedness is a matter of eye structure, whereas presbyopia is more a matter of time.
A person can carry both farsightedness and presbyopia at once. In that case near vision trouble can be felt earlier and more sharply. A correct solution needs a detailed prescription measurement and an assessment of the two conditions together.
How We Measure Your Farsightedness Prescription in Kemalpasa
At our store in Kemalpasa, if we suspect farsightedness we first measure your prescription clearly. With our eye test service we assess your near and distance vision separately and set your plus prescription accurately. After the measurement we talk through whether you need glasses and which lens type suits you. Keeping the difference between children and adults in mind, we suggest the option that fits you best.
A clear prescription matters, and so does the right frame and lens choice for the result. A frame suited to your face and daily use lifts viewing comfort with plus lenses in a clear way. You can find more detail about the process of getting glasses in Kemalpasa in our Kemalpasa glasses guide.
The Right Place for Farsightedness Glasses in Izmir
Once your farsightedness prescription is measured clearly, all that remains is choosing the glasses that suit you. In our store we go over the thin and light options for plus lenses, how they match your frame and which one fits your daily use best. By talking through whether you need them mainly for near work or for constant wear, we suggest the lens type accordingly.
We help customers from different districts of Izmir with farsightedness glasses with ease. Because your old glasses can fall short once your prescription changes, a check is worthwhile when near vision strain starts again. Dropping by at a convenient time is all we need to decide together.
If you suspect farsightedness or you struggle with near vision, we would be glad to see you for a check. Our store sits at Mehmet Akif Ersoy Mahallesi, Kirazli Caddesi No 160/B, in Kemalpasa, Izmir. We are about 15 minutes from Bornova and 25 minutes from Buca. You can send your questions over WhatsApp or simply stop by our store.
