What is hyperopia?

Hyperopia, commonly known as farsightedness, is a refractive error where distant objects may be seen clearly, but nearby objects appear blurry. This occurs when the eye is shorter than normal or when the cornea has too little curvature, leading to light entering the eye not focusing directly on the retina. Instead, the focal point is situated behind the retina. This understanding is crucial as it helps distinguish hyperopia from other vision problems.

While some might mistakenly think of it as a condition affecting near vision, it is important to note that hyperopia can also lead to eye strain or headaches when focusing on close tasks, but it is primarily defined by the discrepancy in clarity between near and distant objects. Other options describe variations of visual impairments that do not accurately represent hyperopia's defining characteristics.