<Things you should know> The correct knowledge about "farsightedness": Causes, symptoms, and treatments for "farsightedness" What are the causes of farsightedness? Main symptoms caused by farsightedness Treatment methods for hyperopia Childhood farsightedness Common problems associated with farsightedness (Q&A) Many people may think that farsightedness (hyperopia) is less common than nearsightedness (myopia) or astigmatism (astigmatism). Nearsightedness is the inability to see distant objects clearly, while farsightedness is the ability to see distant objects clearly, so it's easy to mistakenly think that "farsightedness = good eyesight." However, farsightedness can easily cause eye strain and headaches, and in children, if left untreated, there's a non-zero chance it could lead to amblyopia or strabismus (crossed eyes). This article explains the correct information about farsightedness, including its causes, symptoms, and treatment methods. What are the causes of farsightedness? When we look at something more than 5 meters away, our eyes are in a relaxed state. In this relaxed state, when the retina is properly focused and a clear image is obtained, our eyes have "emmetropia" (normal vision).On the other hand, when the eyes are relaxed, "farsightedness" refers to an eye where the focus is behind the retina. Farsightedness is often mistakenly thought to mean "eyes that can see far away well." In a "farsighted" state, the focus does not naturally fall on the retina, and the thickness of the lens needs to be constantly adjusted in order to see things clearly.When looking at something close up, the lens needs to adjust even more strongly than when looking at something far away, so people who spend a lot of time looking at things up close, such as those who do desk work, are especially prone to eye strain. Hyperopia (farsightedness) is very tiring on the eyes. In some cases, people go about their daily lives without noticing mild hyperopia and only find out they have it when they visit an ophthalmologist due to eye strain or other reasons. In the case of normal vision In the case of farsightedness When we look at something, the thickness of the lens adjusts to focus the image, which is slightly behind the retina, onto the retina. Types of hyperopia There are two types of hyperopia: "axial hyperopia," which is caused by the eyeball's depth (axial length) being shorter than normal, and "refractive hyperopia," which is caused by weak refractive power of the cornea or lens. In many cases, both causes are present. axial hyperopia Because the depth of the eyeball (axial length) is shorter than that of a normal eyeball, the focus is behind the retina. Refractive hyperopia The refractive power (the ability to bend light) of the cornea and lens is weak, and the focus is behind the retina. The difference between presbyopia and hyperopia While hyperopia (farsightedness) is caused by a short eyeball or weak refractive power of the cornea and lens, resulting in the focus being behind the retina, presbyopia (age-related farsightedness) is a condition where the lens hardens with age, making it difficult to focus properly. While presbyopia and hyperopia have different causes, both can lead to eye strain. Even if you're not dissatisfied with your vision, it's important not to ignore it. Consult a doctor and take appropriate measures, such as correcting your vision with glasses or contact lenses, as needed. Main symptoms caused by farsightedness Because farsightedness requires the lens to adjust its thickness whether viewing distant or near objects, it can easily lead to eye strain.The main symptoms of eye strain are as follows: Eye fatigue Pain deep in the eye Stiff shoulders headache My neck feels stiff. nausea Other symptoms of autonomic nervous system dysfunction These symptoms often lead to difficulties in sustaining detailed work and maintaining concentration. Treatment methods for hyperopia There is no cure for farsightedness. The basic approach is to have an eye examination at an ophthalmologist and correct your vision with glasses or contact lenses as needed. For example, if your job involves a lot of close-up work, using glasses or contact lenses can alleviate eye strain.On the other hand, if left untreated, it can lead to shoulder stiffness, headaches, and decreased work or study efficiency due to difficulty concentrating on reading or other tasks requiring close attention. Furthermore, it may even lead to autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Childhood farsightedness Babies are generally born with a mild form of farsightedness. In most cases, this resolves as the eyeball, cornea, and lens develop and their "visual function" is completed between infancy and around age 13. However, in some cases, such as when the farsightedness is severe from birth, it may persist into adulthood. Many children with farsightedness are born with this condition, so they perceive it as "normal." Furthermore, their lenses have strong accommodative power, allowing them to unconsciously adjust their focus and see well enough for daily life. Therefore, children rarely complain about difficulty seeing, and the condition can sometimes be overlooked during school vision tests.However, because farsightedness constantly adjusts focus, the eyes are prone to fatigue.Children often struggle with detailed work, have short attention spans, and get bored easily, and these behaviors are often attributed to their personality. However, in some cases, they may actually be caused by hyperopia, which constantly requires the eyes to adjust focus, leading to eye strain.Furthermore, farsightedness in children can lead to amblyopia or strabismus. amblyopia Amblyopia refers to low vision caused by impaired visual development. It describes a condition where vision is insufficient even with glasses.A newborn baby's vision is blurry, and they gradually develop a sense of depth and perspective by constantly looking at things with both eyes. However, if, during the period when their "visual function" is developing, they experience eye diseases or injuries, or are exposed to environments that are not good for eye development, and continue to have difficulty seeing things properly with both eyes, their visual development can be impaired, resulting in amblyopia (lazy eye).Furthermore, severe farsightedness can also cause amblyopia (lazy eye). When farsightedness is above a certain level, the eye's ability to adjust focus is insufficient, resulting in a consistently blurry image. In this state, the necessary stimulation for eye development is lacking, making it difficult for the "visual function" to develop.Amblyopia in children can be treated with amblyopia therapy. This involves using glasses to create a state where the child can focus on near objects and then giving them plenty of opportunities to look at things up close.The longer the period during which vision development is suppressed, the more difficult recovery becomes, so early detection and treatment are crucial. Strabismus Strabismus is a condition in which one eye is directed towards an object while the other is directed in a different direction. Among the different types of strabismus, esotropia is a condition in which one pupil turns inward.In hyperopia, the eyes must use their accommodative power to focus on both distant and near objects. This process can cause the lines of sight of both eyes to shift slightly inward, which can lead to esotropia (inward turning of the eyes).In cases of esotropia (inward turning of the eyes), it can be difficult to perceive depth and distance, and objects may appear double. This can also be a cause of amblyopia (lazy eye). The cosmetic appearance is also often a concern. In some cases, treatment can improve the condition.In children, corrective glasses are used to train them to develop binocular vision (the ability to perceive depth and distance when looking at an object). If binocular vision is not possible even with glasses, surgery is considered.Once growth has stopped, establishing binocular vision becomes difficult, so it is important to start treatment as early as possible, ideally during infancy. Another problem with neglecting hyperopia in children is that it can take a long time for them to adjust to corrective lenses. If you suspect hyperopia, it is recommended to consult an ophthalmologist. Common problems associated with farsightedness (Q&A) Can farsightedness develop with age? Many people experience increased farsightedness with age. This is thought to be because the tissues in the eye lose their elasticity and shrink with age.Furthermore, as we age, our ability to adjust focus weakens, which can make it difficult to see things up close, similar to farsightedness. This is commonly known as presbyopia. Is there a way to self-check for farsightedness? If you experience eye strain, pain deep in your eyes, stiff shoulders, headaches, or nausea despite being able to see perfectly fine without glasses, you may have hyperopia (farsightedness). Also, if you experience difficulty seeing things up close or eye strain before the average age of presbyopia (mid-40s), you may have underlying hyperopia.In cases of farsightedness, vision test results often don't change. However, it's not good to ignore eye strain. Also, after the age of 40, the risk of developing other eye diseases increases. Don't think "my eyesight is fine, so I'm okay," and it's important to have regular checkups with an ophthalmologist. Is there a way to tell if a child is farsighted? In cases of hyperopia exceeding a certain level, visual acuity tests often reveal that the person does not have sufficient vision.If your eyesight is relatively good, vision problems may be overlooked during eye exams. However, because your eyes are constantly adjusting their focus, the following tendencies are more likely to occur: I can't concentrate on detailed tasks like drawing or crafts for long periods of time. I can't concentrate. Restless If you notice these symptoms, please have your child's eyes examined by an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. Many children's behavior calms down considerably once they start wearing appropriate glasses around the age of two or three. Supervised by: Dr. Masayoshi Kajita, Director of Kajita Eye ClinicAfter graduating from Fukushima Medical University in 1983, he worked as a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, before opening Kajita Ophthalmology Clinic in 2003. From 2018 to 2021, he served as a Clinical Professor at Tokyo Medical and Dental University School of Medicine. In 2022, he was awarded Honorary Membership by the Japan Contact Lens Society, and in 2023, Honorary Membership by the Japanese Society of Ophthalmic Optics. He currently serves as a councilor of the Japan Ophthalmological Society and a member of the drafting committee for the Japanese Medical Optics JIS standards. We take care to post accurate information,Please point out any incorrect information. Please submit any comments regarding medical information here. Return to the list of eye symptoms and diseases