What is Long-Sightedness?

Long-sightedness occurs when light rays entering the eye focus behind the retina, rather than directly on it. The eyeball of a farsighted person is shorter than normal. People with long-sightedness can see distant objects very well, but have difficulty seeing objects that are up close. More severe long-sightedness would also cause problems with seeing far objects clearly. Many children are born with long-sightedness, and some of them "outgrow" it as the eyeball lengthens with normal growth.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of long-sightedness may include headaches, eye strain, difficulty concentrating or focusing at nearby objects, fatigue or headache after performing a close task such as reading.

Treatment

Long-sightedness can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. You may need to wear your glasses or contacts all the time, or only when reading, working on a computer, or doing other close-up work. Refractive surgery is another option for correcting long-sightedness.