Hyperopia (long-sightedness or far-sightedness)

Hyperopia is a little harder to understand. Objects in the distance are seen more clearly than those up close.

The cornea and lens are not strong enough, or the eye is too short, and light is focused behind the retina. The accommodation mechanism in the eye that is usually used to do the extra focusing for seeing up close has to be used even to see in the distance.

In youth most people have sufficient reserve accommodation power to see in the distance and up close. As one gets older there is less range of accommodation and glasses become necessary to see near objects and then later to see in the distance as well.