Farsightedness, or hyperopia, occurs when you have difficulty seeing close objects. If you have trouble reading a book or using a phone but experience no issue seeing objects that are further away, speak to an optometrist. Here are five signs of farsightedness:
1. Difficulty Seeing Close Objects
Farsightedness affects your near vision, which makes it hard to clearly see objects and text when they’re close. The condition makes activities, such as reading, sewing, or using a phone, challenging. Your eyes may struggle to focus at a shorter distance, causing the brain and muscles around the eyes to work harder.
If you have to hold a reading material at arm’s length to see it more clearly, visit an optometrist for a checkup. Over time, this symptom becomes more consistent and noticeable. You may also experience eye strain and fatigue because your eyes are working harder to focus on close objects. The muscles that control eye and lens movement become tired, resulting in sore or aching eyes after prolonged focus on near objects.
2. Frequent Headaches at Work
Farsightedness symptoms may be subtle at first, but their effects lead to frequent headaches. Your eye muscles work harder to focus on near objects, which can radiate tension into the forehead and temples, especially after prolonged up close focus. Watch out for headaches that appear after reading, writing, or using a computer. The headache is often dull or throbbing, and improves the longer you stay away from the triggers. Since many activities can lead to strain and headaches, it’s easy to dismiss the symptom as a stress-related ache. If you consistently get headaches after focusing on nearby text or other items, see an eye doctor for a comprehensive evaluation and early intervention.
3. Blurry Vision at All Distances
Farsightedness is more noticeable when looking at nearby objects, but severe hyperopia also affects distance vision in moderate or severe cases. Distant objects, such as road signs, may appear slightly out of focus or blurry. This happens because your eyes cannot bend light rays sharply enough to bring such images into clear focus on the retina. Blurry vision can come and go based on the objects you focus on and the lighting conditions. You may also have blurry vision more frequently if your eyes are already tired from focusing on near objects.
4. Squinting To Achieve Focus
People naturally squint to sharpen blurry vision. The response involves narrowing your eyelids to reduce the amount of light entering, which temporarily improves focus. If you’re farsighted, you may squint more often to make things appear clearer. Although squinting offers short-term relief, it shows that your eyes are struggling to focus.
Squinting repeatedly throughout the day increases facial tension, which can lead to headaches and more strain on your eyes. The effort to maintain clear vision can also irritate the eyes, leading to dryness, burning, or stinging sensations. Your eyes may also become watery as a reflex response to the irritation and repeated squinting.
5. Difficulty Seeing at Night
Symptoms of farsightedness can become more noticeable at night or in dimly lit conditions. In low light, your pupils dilate to let in more light, but hyperopic eyes already have difficulty focusing light precisely on the retina, which can make objects appear blurrier. You may notice hazy vision when reading in poor light or driving at night, and glare from headlights or streetlights may feel more intense. If these symptoms interfere with daily activities, corrective measures such as eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery can help improve focus and reduce eye strain.
Speak to an Optometrist Today
Eye conditions, such as hyperopia and myopia, can disrupt your daily routines. They also tend to get worse over time if you don’t seek treatment from a professional. Contact an optometrist today to find out more about your symptoms, condition, and treatment options.