I Thought My Eyes Were Just Tired — Turns Out I Was Farsighted All Along
Not long ago, I noticed I was holding my phone farther and farther away just to read the screen. I blamed it on too much screen time, poor sleep, maybe even stress. But the blur didn’t go away. Reading books, menus, even emails felt like a chore. And then the headaches kicked in.
I finally went for an eye checkup, and the verdict? Hypermetropia. Also known as farsightedness. I’d heard of it, but like most people, I assumed it was just something kids grew out of or older folks dealt with. Turns out, it’s a lot more common — and a lot sneakier — than I thought.
Hypermetropia means your eyes don’t focus light properly, especially when looking at things up close. For some, it’s genetic. For others, it worsens with age as the lens in your eye becomes less flexible. The science behind it is simple, but the impact on daily life can be frustrating.
If you’re someone who stares at screens for work, you’ll know what I mean. There’s a great LinkedIn post that breaks this down in a professional context:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/askdocdoc_hypermetropia-affects-focus-by-shifting-how-activity-7353069124421382145-XWcz
Even though it's a medical condition, hypermetropia affects how we feel during the day—mentally tired, physically tense, even emotionally drained. It creeps into our routines quietly. There’s a relatable Instagram video that sums it up really well:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DMX459lOdtV/
For kids, it can be even trickier. They might not even realize they’re struggling. I read an early tweet that emphasized how important school eye screenings are, especially for preventing long-term issues:
https://twitter.com/AskDoctors24/status/1947303349390352654
After my diagnosis, I started researching treatment options. Glasses were a quick fix for me. Others might prefer contact lenses or even laser surgery. This article was super helpful and explained everything clearly (published by AskDocDoc):
https://askdocdoc.com/articles/738-understanding-hypermetropia-causes-symptoms-and-treatment-options
Along the way, I made a few small changes at home and at work. I adjusted my desk setup, improved my lighting, and now follow the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds). This simple tip from Threads was a game-changer:
https://www.threads.com/@askdocdoc/post/DMX455gtsJ0
There’s also a post on Facebook that encouraged me to pay more attention to my screen settings and take regular breaks—tiny things that made a big difference:
https://www.facebook.com/122099392514743210/posts/122133962186743210
If you’re a parent or teacher, I recommend checking out this Pinterest board that has fun, visual ways to help kids care for their eyes:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/928445279436243320
So here I am, a few weeks into my “new eyes” — not because anything changed overnight, but because I finally understood what was going on. Hypermetropia is manageable, but only if you know it’s there.