Hyperopia / Farsightedness

Hyperopia is the medical term for far-sightedness, and occurs when light entering the eye focuses behind the retina, instead of directly on it. Individuals with hyperopia usually have trouble seeing up close, but may also have difficulty seeing objects far away as well. It is caused by a cornea that is flatter, or an eye that is shorter, than a normal eye. Because young people with mild to moderate hyperopia can often focus their eyes to see clearly, hyperopia is often undetected until later in life, when the eye begins to lose its ability to accommodate.