HYPEROPIA (hy-per-O-pee-a) or FARSIGHTEDNESS

The medical term for this visual condition is hyperopia.  For optimum visual performance, our eyes must focus on faraway objects without exerting "EXTRA" FOCUSING EFFORT (distance vision should be clear and effortless).  Farsightedness is present when your eyes must exert unnecessary focusing effort to attempt to clear distance vision and thus a greater than normal focusing effort to maintain clear and comfortable close-range vision.  This constant extra focusing effort causes symptoms of fatigue, headaches, tension and numerous other complaints of ocular discomfort.

 The visual consequences of this condition are generally different for children than adults.  Most farsighted children see clearly at distance, thus the term "FAR"-sighted; however, they achieve clarity by exerting a CONSTANT FOCUSING EFFORT at distance and close-range. Farsighted adults, however, gradually see less clearly at distance because all adults naturally decrease focusing ability due to a secondary visual condition called presbyopia.  Farsighted eyes require eyeglasses and/or contact lenses to maintain clear and comfortable vision at all ranges.  In extreme cases, refractive surgery may be considered.

Farsightedness decreases during our growth years, remains fairly stable during our twenties and thirties and as a normal healthy progression, typically increases in our forties and beyond. 

For more information on hyperopia follow this link Hyperopia

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