Far-sightedness

The far-sighted eye is often shorter than the normal-sighted eye. The sclera (white of the eye) is more often thicker and the front eye chamber somewhat narrower. For this reason, the incoming light is refracted to a point behind the intended position on the retina. As a result, visual information is projected unfocused onto the macula (point of most focused vision). Far-sightedness is already completely formed during childhood. At this age, the eye lens corrects for this by adjusting its shape. Nevertheless, far-sighted individuals slowly lose their ability to read. The cornea's ability to change its shape is needed for distant vision. Thus, there remains only a small amount of adjustment for reading or close-up vision. The cornea's ability to change its shape diminishes with advancing age. For this reason far-sighted individuals need reading glasses at an earlier age.

Far-sightedness can too be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or a laser procedure.