Long-sightedness, or hyperopia, affects the ability to see nearby objects. You may be able to see distant objects clearly, but closer objects are usually out of focus.

Long-sightedness can affect people in different ways. Some people only have trouble focusing on nearby objects, while some people may struggle to see clearly at any distance.

After the age of 40, it is common to start developing problems with near vision, this is known as presbyopia

Sometimes symptoms of long-sightedness are not obvious, it can manifest as headaches or a feeling tired or strained eyes after activities that involve focusing on nearby objects, such as reading, writing or computer work.

Children who are long-sighted often don't have obvious issues with their vision at first. But if left untreated, it can lead to problems such as a squint or a lazy eye.

What causes long-sightedness?

Long-sightedness occurs if the eye doesn't focus light on the retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye) properly.

This may be because the:

  • Eyeball is too short
  • Cornea (transparent layer at the front of the eye) is too flat
  • Lens inside the eye is unable to focus properly

It's often not clear what causes these problems, but they're rarely a sign of any underlying condition. Sometimes long-sightedness may be a result of the genes you inherited from your parents.

Book your eye test now at Chakshu London opticians, it's the best way to find out if you are long-sighted and what you require in terms of glasses or contact lenses.