Farsightedness, also called hyperopia, affects how clearly you see things that are close to you. Many people don’t realize they have it until their eyes start straining or they develop frequent headaches. Why? Because the signs can be subtle. If your distance vision is still sharp, you might assume your eyes are fine. But ignoring early signs of farsightedness can lead to discomfort and worsen over time.

In this article, I’ll explain the common signs of farsightedness that people often overlook and what to do if you notice them.

1. You Struggle to Focus on Close-Up Tasks

Reading, threading a needle, or using your phone can suddenly feel harder than it used to. You may catch yourself squinting or pulling objects farther away to see them better. That’s because farsighted eyes have trouble focusing up close. When you’re farsighted, the light entering your eye focuses behind the retina instead of directly on it. This makes nearby objects appear blurry.

If you’ve started avoiding close-up tasks or holding reading material at arm’s length, it could be a sign your eyes are overworking to adjust.

2. You Often Experience Eye Strain

Eye strain—also known as asthenopia—happens when your eyes work too hard for too long. Farsighted people tend to force their eyes to focus at close distances, which puts extra pressure on the eye muscles. Over time, this can make your eyes feel tired or achy.

You might notice burning, a pulling sensation around your eyes, or a feeling like your eyes are heavy. This usually worsens after reading or doing close-up work for an extended period.

3. You Get Frequent Headaches

Recurring headaches, especially in the front of the head or around the eyes, are a classic sign of untreated hyperopia. These headaches often show up after intense visual tasks like reading or computer work. That’s because your brain is trying to compensate for your vision by forcing your eyes to focus harder.

If you’ve ruled out stress, dehydration, and other causes but still get headaches after near work, it might be time for an eye exam.

4. Your Eyes Water or Burn Without a Clear Cause

Many people associate watery or burning eyes with allergies or dry eye syndrome. But farsightedness can also lead to these symptoms. When your eyes work harder to focus, they can become irritated, tired, or inflamed. This triggers reflex tears—your body’s way of soothing eye discomfort.

If artificial tears don’t help and you notice watery or burning eyes, mostly after reading or screen time, farsightedness could be the reason.

5. You Avoid Reading or Close-Up Tasks

Do you find yourself avoiding books, skipping instructions on packaging, or asking others to read small text for you? That behavior might not be due to boredom or laziness—it could be a subconscious response to vision discomfort.

When reading or doing close-up work becomes frustrating or tiring, your brain learns to avoid those activities. This avoidance is a quiet but clear sign that your eyes are struggling to keep up.

6. You See Clearly at a Distance—But Still Have Vision Problems

This is what makes farsightedness tricky. Many people think, “I see fine,” because they can read street signs or recognize faces across a room. But farsightedness doesn’t affect distance vision as much, at least not at first.

You might feel surprised to learn that vision problems can still exist even when things far away look clear. Hyperopia primarily affects near vision, and the signs grow more noticeable over time as your eyes age and lose flexibility.

7. Your Child Has Trouble with Reading or Schoolwork

Farsightedness often begins in childhood. However, many kids don’t realize they have a vision problem because they assume everyone sees the way they do. A child with undiagnosed hyperopia might complain of headaches, rub their eyes frequently, lose focus while reading, or avoid homework altogether.

Teachers may misinterpret these signs as behavior or attention problems, but the root cause can be undetected vision issues. If your child is falling behind or complains about reading, an eye exam can reveal whether farsightedness is the cause.

What to Do If You Notice These Signs

The good news is that farsightedness is easy to diagnose and manage. A comprehensive eye exam can confirm the condition. In most cases, glasses or contact lenses can correct the problem and reduce eye strain. For adults who don’t want to rely on eyewear, corrective surgery like LASIK may also be an option.

Even mild farsightedness can interfere with your daily comfort. That’s why it’s important not to ignore early warning signs—especially if they keep returning.

Final Thoughts

Farsightedness often hides in plain sight. You might chalk up your symptoms to tiredness, screen time, or age, when in fact, your eyes are telling you they need help. If you recognize these signs in yourself or your child, don’t wait. Schedule an eye exam with a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Have you had your eyes checked lately?