Definition:Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a common vision problem. It affects up to a fourth of the population. The people diagnosed with this can see far away objects very well but have trouble seeing things close to them.Symptoms:Farsighted people sometimes have headaches or eye strain and may squint or feel fatigued when performing work at close range. If you get these symptoms while wearing your eyeglasses or contact lenses, you may need an eye exam and a new prescription.What causes this?This vision problem occurs when light rays entering the eye focus behind the retina, rather than directly on it. The eyeball of a farsighted person is shorter than normal.Many children are born farsighted, and some of them "outgrow" it as the eyeball lengthens with normal growth.Sometimes people confuse hyperopia with presbyopia, which also causes near vision problems but for different reasons.