Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a common eye condition. Hyperopia occurs when the light that enters the eye focuses behind the retina. In many cases, the eyeball is too short and so the focal point of light falls behind the retina. People with hyperopia are called farsighted because, in many cases, they can see better far away than up close. In reality, however, the situation is much more complicated. Young hyperopic individuals may be able to see well at all distances and not even know they are hyperopic because the lens of the eye can accommodate for the condition. In other words, the eye in younger people can compensate for modest amounts of hyperopia. However, this ability to compensate is lost with age and so hyperopia is often discovered as that person ages. People with hyperopia are at higher risk for certain types of eye conditions, including certain forms of glaucoma. Hyperopia can usually be treated with glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery.