The Misunderstanding of Farsightedness
What is Farsightedness?
If you search for “farsightedness” or “long-sightedness” online, you might come across a definition like this: “Farsightedness or long-sightedness is when distant objects are clear, and near objects are out of focus or blurry.” But this isn’t always the case, especially in young children and young adults.
Understanding Accommodation in Farsightedness
Within our eyes, we have a natural lens called the crystalline lens. This lens has the natural ability to become more convex (fatter) or less convex (flatter) within the eye. This process is known as accommodation, and it happens when the muscles attached to the lens, called the ciliary muscles, contract to change the lens’s power.
Why Farsightedness Requires Extra Effort
For someone who is farsighted or long-sighted, their eyes can accommodate to compensate for their farsightedness. This means they can see clearly at both distance and near. The younger the person, the more accommodative ability they have.
Symptoms of Farsightedness: More Than Meets the Eye
So, farsighted people can see everywhere, but it doesn’t come without a great deal of effort. They often have to put in conscious effort to see clearly at a distance, and even more effort to see up close. This can lead to headaches, eye strain, intermittent blurriness (especially after school or work), resistance or extreme dislike of near work such as reading, homework, studying, and working on the computer. For children, this might translate into behaviours like crying, fighting about doing homework or performing below their intellectual ability at school. In adults, this may show up as procrastination, extreme fatigue, and slow performance at work.
The Impact of Increased Near Work on Farsightedness
Given the significant shift towards digital media, we’re exposed to much more near work, whether on computers or handheld devices. Especially in the past few years, since the time that should not be named, people who were previously asymptomatic may now experience eye strain, headaches, and fatigue.
Don’t Dismiss These Symptoms: Seek Professional Help
These symptoms should not be dismissed as just the result of a hard day at school or work but should be considered as possible signs of a visual issue.
Real-Life Impact: The Difference Correcting Farsightedness Can Make
In my practice, I’ve seen how correcting farsightedness can significantly impact a person’s life. One parent even said, “This is the first term my son has passed in two years.”
The Hidden Struggles of High Achievers
Being farsighted doesn’t always mean a child will fail at school—they may perform very well. But doing well often requires a lot of effort for a farsighted child. For argument’s sake, consider two students with the same IQ. Student 1 needs to study for two hours to get 80%, but Student 2 only needs one hour to get 80%. Or Student 1 and 2 only study for one hour, but Student 1 might get 70%, while Student 2 would get 90%, even though they have the same cognitive ability.
The Importance of a Paediatric Comprehensive Eye Evaluation
So, even if a child does well in school, getting a full paediatric comprehensive eye evaluation wouldn’t hurt.
How Farsightedness Affects Adults
In adults, symptoms might only appear when they change jobs from one that doesn’t require much computer work to one that does. Children who perform well in school might only experience symptoms of farsightedness when they start university, where the visual demands are far greater than in secondary school.
Farsightedness and Poor Depth Perception
Farsighted people often have poor depth perception (the ability to discern how far one object is from another). This might result in poor ball skills, clumsiness, and inconsistent sports performance.
Don’t Ignore Poor Ball Skills: It Could Be a Vision Issue
Poor ball skills should not be ignored. All children need a certain level of ball skills, and this shouldn’t just be attributed to a lack of interest in sports or talent—it could be a possible visual issue.
Conclusion: Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Farsightedness
To conclude, farsightedness should not be ignored. Come for an eye evaluation, whether for a child or an adult, to see if you need farsighted correction. It could improve your life.
Schedule Your Eye Evaluation Today
At our practice, we specialise in general optometry, family optometry, paediatric optometry, and vision therapy. If you or your child are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, book an appointment today. Early detection and treatment of farsightedness can significantly affect your quality of life.
