If you are farsighted, also known as being hyperopic, you may wonder if you need to wear your glasses full time or only for certain activities. Farsightedness makes it difficult to see things up close, so wearing glasses can help correct your vision for near tasks. Here are some quick answers to common questions about when to wear glasses if you’re farsighted:
Should I wear glasses all the time if I’m farsighted?
You may not need to wear your farsighted glasses full time. Many people with mild to moderate farsightedness only need glasses for reading or computer use. But if you have trouble clearly seeing objects in the distance as well, wearing glasses full time can help.
When is it most important to wear farsighted glasses?
It’s most critical to wear your farsighted glasses when doing detailed near work like reading, using a computer, cooking, sewing, or any activity where you need to see up close. Farsighted glasses help you focus on close objects.
Can wearing glasses make my farsightedness worse?
No, wearing your prescribed farsighted glasses will not make your condition worse. Glasses simply help bend light rays properly to correct your vision; they do not affect the shape of your eye or ability to focus.
Will I become dependent on my glasses if I wear them all the time?
You will not become dependent on glasses if you wear them full time. Your eyes will not get weaker or “lazy.” You can go without your glasses when you don’t need to see as accurately, and your vision will stay the same.
When don’t I need to wear farsighted glasses?
You may not need glasses for activities like:
- Driving
- Watching TV
- Looking at far-away objects
- Playing sports
- Taking a walk
Discuss with your eye doctor when you can safely go without glasses based on your degree of farsightedness and lifestyle needs.
Should children with farsightedness wear glasses full time?
Children are often prescribed full-time glasses if they have significant farsightedness. Wearing glasses helps them see clearly for schoolwork and play. Part-time glasses may be an option for milder cases. An eye doctor can advise you on the best approach for your child.
Conclusion
The decision of whether or not to wear farsighted glasses full time is based on factors like your degree of farsightedness, visual demands, lifestyle needs, age, and eye doctor recommendations. Adults with mild farsightedness often only require glasses for near tasks like reading. But full-time glasses are usually prescribed for young children, safety-critical jobs, visually demanding activities, and moderate to high farsightedness. Discuss your specific needs with your eye care provider.
What is Farsightedness?
Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is a common vision condition where you can see distant objects clearly, but objects nearby appear more blurry. It is the opposite of being nearsighted. Farsightedness occurs when the eyeball is too short or the cornea has too little curvature, causing light rays to focus behind the retina rather than directly on it.
What Causes Farsightedness?
Farsightedness is usually caused by one or more of these factors:
- A short eyeball – An eye that is flattened front to back causes light rays to overfocus behind the retina
- Weak eye muscles – Eyecup muscles that control lens shape may not flatten the lens enough to focus up close
- A flattened cornea – Insufficient curvature of the clear window at the eye’s front also contributes to far-focused light rays
- Genetics – Research shows farsightedness has a hereditary component
- Premature birth – Babies born early are more prone to hyperopia
Farsightedness Signs and Symptoms
Signs that you may be farsighted include:
- Blurry vision when looking at nearby objects like books or your cell phone
- Squinting or eye discomfort when doing close work
- Headaches after prolonged reading or computer use
- Holding reading material farther away to see it clearly
- Difficulty seeing objects up close in dim lighting
In mild cases, symptoms may only be noticeable during extended near tasks. More severe farsightedness can also cause blurred distance vision.
Who Gets Farsightedness?
Farsightedness is very common, affecting an estimated 30-60% of adults over age 40. Here are some key facts about its prevalence:
- Farsightedness is present at birth but may not cause vision symptoms until school age or later
- Up to 10% of children under age 10 are farsighted
- Adults over 40 have a higher risk due to weakening eye muscles
- Hispanics and Asians have a higher rate of farsightedness
- Premature infants are more likely to be farsighted
Is Farsightedness Serious?
For most people, mild to moderate farsightedness is not a serious problem. However, higher degrees can increase risk for certain eye disorders and problems including:
- Amblyopia (lazy eye) – In children, uncorrected farsightedness can lead to poor vision development
- Eyestrain and headaches – Focused staring to see nearby creates eye discomfort
- Strabismus (crossed eyes) – Eyes may turn inward or outward when trying to focus
- Eyelid spasms or twitching
Very high farsightedness also increases risk for more vision loss as you age and can make it difficult to read up close even with glasses or contacts.
Farsightedness Diagnosis
Farsightedness is diagnosed through a comprehensive eye exam by an eye doctor. Here’s an overview of how they check for hyperopia:
Refraction Test
This test measures how your vision responds to corrective lenses. You’ll look through a phoropter, a device with various lenses that can be swapped quickly. You’ll be asked to read letters on a chart while the eye doctor changes lenses until finding the ones that correct vision best at both near and far.
Retinoscopy
A handheld instrument called a retinoscope shines a light into your eye, allowing the doctor to evaluate how light focuses. Your eyes are dilated with drops for this test. Based on how the reflected light moves, the doctor can detect farsightedness.
Eye Focusing Ability
Your ability to modulate focus is measured by having you read text on a card that is moved closer and farther away. This tests the eye muscles used for near focusing.
Eye Structure Exam
Using a slit lamp microscope, the doctor will look for signs of farsightedness based on eye structure. A shorter eyeball length or flatter cornea curvature are anatomical clues.
Vision Needs Evaluation
The eye doctor will discuss your visual requirements for work, school, driving and daily tasks. This helps determine what degree of correction you need through glasses or contacts.
Eye Health Check
A dilated eye exam allows inspection of the retina and optic nerve for eye health problems. Eye drops are used to widen the pupils for a better view inside the eye.
Farsightedness Treatment Options
Farsightedness is normally corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. Here are the main treatment options:
Single Vision Eyeglasses
Single vision lenses have the same prescription in both eyes. They are ideal for correcting mild to moderate farsightedness and work well for most visual tasks. Single vision glasses are an affordable option.
Bifocal or Multifocal Eyeglasses
For people over 40 with presbyopia and farsightedness, no-line bifocals or progressive multifocal lenses allow sharp vision at all distances. Segmented bifocals have a visible dividing line. Progressives have a gradual prescription change.
Contacts for Farsightedness
Soft contact lenses that flex and change shape with eye movements are commonly prescribed for hyperopia. Monovision contact fitting is also used, with one eye corrected for distance and one for near vision.
Reading Glasses
Adults who only need sharp close-up vision can wear over-the-counter reading glasses for near tasks like sewing, studying or using phones. They come in varying strengths.
Surgery for Farsightedness
Refractive eye surgeries like LASIK, PRK and ICL implantation can reduce mild to moderate farsightedness. Surgeons reshape the cornea or place an artificial lens to change light focusing in the eye.
Farsightedness Management Tips
Here are some useful tips for managing farsightedness if you don’t always wear glasses or contacts:
- Get prescription computer glasses to reduce eyestrain
- Take frequent breaks when doing detailed near work
- Use proper lighting and glare control on screens
- Have vision checked yearly for any changes
- Consider magnifying glasses for very small print
- Position reading material farther away to focus better
- Reduce eye fatigue by blinking often when concentrating
- Try over-the-counter reading glasses if needed for short tasks
Children with significant farsightedness usually need to wear their glasses full time for proper visual development.
Farsightedness FAQs
At what age does farsightedness begin?
Farsightedness is often present from birth but may not cause noticeable vision problems until school age when children begin near focus activities like reading. Screening around age 4 to 6 can detect issues.
Do eye exercises help farsightedness?
Vision therapy and focusing exercises have not been proven to reduce farsightedness, but they may help eye coordination skills in children. However, glasses remain the primary treatment.
Can being on screens cause farsightedness?
No, digital devices do not cause farsightedness. But straining to see a screen can bring out hyperopia symptoms faster. Taking screen breaks helps prevent discomfort.
Does farsightedness go away with age?
Farsightedness does not go away, and often gradually worsens over decades due to weakening eye muscles and loss of focusing ability. Vision needs may change with age, requiring prescription adjustments.
Can eye makeup cause or worsen farsightedness?
No, using eye makeup does not increase farsightedness. But if contacts are not inserted or removed properly, makeup residue could cause irritation or other contact lens problems.
Conclusion
Farsightedness makes it hard to focus up close, but distance vision remains clear. Glasses or contacts can correct the condition for sharp vision at all ranges. Mild farsightedness may only require glasses for near tasks like reading. But young children and those with stronger prescriptions often need full-time correction. Work with your eye doctor to find the best treatment approach and wearing schedule based on your visual needs and lifestyle.
