3 Ways to Manage Farsightedness

1. Wear a Corrective Lens

This is the simplest and most common treatment for farsightedness. Your eye doctor will measure and prescribe a custom-tailored lens to treat your focusing problem. The lens essentially works to undo your cornea's relative lack of curvature. Standard eyeglasses can be very effective at counteracting poor natural optics. You can get bifocals, special reading glasses or even trifocals.

Your doctor can alternatively prescribe contact lenses. Contacts come in a plethora of styles, shapes and disposal options. You can find gas-permeable, extended-wear, soft and hard lenses as well as others. Your optician can explain the pluses and minuses of the various options.

Some farsighted patients may qualify for monovision contact lenses. These attach to the dominant eye to relieve close-up focusing problems. The one issue many people have with monovision contacts is that the lenses inhibit your ability to see in three dimensions. As such, they take some adjustment.

2. Adjust Your Lenses Regularly

Your farsighted condition will likely evolve over time. Your cornea and your eye itself are not static. They respond to changes in the environment and can change form as you age. Go for regular checkups to ensure that your prescription is giving you optimal focus. If you don't wear lenses to correct or manage farsightedness or if you wear the wrong lenses, you can exacerbate vision problems and suffer all sorts of unpleasant and potentially dangerous symptoms (headaches and eyestrain, for example).

3. Lead a Healthy Lifestyle That Focuses on Eye Health

To stave off macular degeneration, eat a diet rich in vegetables and certain kinds of fruit. So-called cruciferous vegetables, as well as carrots, cantaloupe and spinach, all contain critical nutrients to support your vision. Similarly, don't expose your eyes to ultraviolet radiation (particularly UVB), and stay away from cigarette smoke, dry conditions and pollution in general.