Farsightedness is a refractive error that makes nearby objects appear blurry. It happens when the shape of the eye focuses light behind the retina (a light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of your eye), instead of onto it.

If you have farsightedness, your eye doctor may prescribe glasses or contact lenses to help you see clearly.

The most common symptoms of farsightedness are:

• Difficulty seeing things up close
• Eye strain (if your eyes feel tired or painful)
• Headache - especially when reading

If you have mild farsightedness, you may not notice any symptoms. That's why it's important to get regular eye exams so your doctor can make sure you see as clearly as possible.

Children with severe farsightedness may also be at higher risk for other eye problems, such as crossed eyes or amblyopia (lazy eye) .

Farsightedness occurs when your eyeball becomes too short from front to back, or when there are problems with the shape of your cornea (clear front layer of the eye) or lens (an inner part of the eye that helps focus the eye ).

These problems cause light to focus behind the retina instead of on it - and that makes nearby objects blurry.

Most people who are farsighted are born with it, but it can't cause vision problems until you get older. You are more likely to have farsightedness if other members of your family are also farsighted.

Ophthalmologists can check hyperopia as part of a comprehensive eye exam. The exam is simple and painless.

The most common treatments for farsightedness are glasses or contact lenses. Your eye doctor will prescribe the correct lenses to help you see as clearly as possible.

Doctors can also use surgery to treat farsightedness in adults. The surgery changes the shape of your cornea so that it can focus light clearly.