Farsightedness, or hyperopia, makes it hard (and even impossible, in some cases) for your eyes to focus upon up-close objects. Similar to how cars must shift gears when driving up a hill, our eyes need added power when viewing objects up close.

If our eyes, for myriad reasons, don’t have enough power, we can’t see up-close objects that well. The images we do see appear blurred and this can be frustrating for folks who suffer from farsightedness.

Other names for farsightedness include long-sightedness and hypermetropia. In this post we’ll discuss what’s behind farsightedness and answer the question you may be asking: can you improve farsightedness naturally?

What Causes Farsightedness?

Farsightedness is caused by our eyes not having enough power to read and see objects that are close to us. To get a bit technical, light rays don’t hit their target or our retinas but end up falling behind them, which makes up-close images appear to be blurred.

Farsightedness is a condition that causes can be eyes that are too short, corneas that aren’t curvy enough and an abnormal position of the eye’s lens.

Children can train their eyes to work harder as a way to make up for the abnormality and see normally.

Other conditions that can cause farsightedness include presbyopia, retinopathy, eye tumors or lens dislocations.

Natural Remedies for Farsightedness

When left untreated, the symptoms of farsightedness can be downright debilitating for people who depend upon their vision for their daily tasks (and who doesn’t?).

A few common symptoms of farsightedness are:

• Aching eyes
• reading-induced headaches
• blurry vision
• eye strain 

Though corrective lenses and LASIK surgery are viable options for dealing with the hassle of farsightedness, there are natural methods that can be effective in both preventing and treating this condition from developing or worsening!

First and foremost is common sense: wear sunglasses to avoid damage to your eyes, ensure that your lighting is adequate so that your eyes don’t need to work even harder to focus and eat nutritious foods that encourage healthy vision.

Another terrific way to naturally improve your farsightedness is through simple eye exercises like those within our Rebuild Your Vision Program. Just as our bodies need repetition and strengthening before we have the power to lift heavy weights, many people have found success in improving their farsightedness by training their eyes through the repetition of our simple exercises.

If you are suffering from farsightedness, and its many symptoms, it’s worth it to investigate your options as there is no reason to suffer in silence.

Blurred vision, especially if you are a driver or operate machinery, can lead to dangerous situations!

Regular headaches, problems seeing and eye strain is no way to live so be sure to meet with your doctor to discuss what you can do to improve the quality of your life, and your vision. 

THE Albino network was recently launched in Zambia. Here, people living with albinism and others listen to speeches – Picture by COLLINS PHIRI.

By CHRISTINE CHISHA
ALBINOS in most African countries face stigmatisation, are discriminated against and often rejected by their families.
In some African cultures and traditions, albinism is a sign of bad luck in the family and as a result, albinos are ostracised from the family to avoid being ridiculed by the other members of the community.
In other more extreme cases, many have been killed and their bodies dismembered for ritual purposes. In Africa, some believe albinos possess magical powers.
Because they are ‘whites’ born of black parents, albinos face discrimination every day and struggle to find love.
For Martha Wampata, a single mother of Kanyama, she has a hard time to raise money to buy sunscreen creams for her two-year-old child.
“I am just a marketeer at Soweto market, I sell tomatoes and to raise KR100 to buy the cream is a big challenge,” she said.
The sunscreen lotion is usually imported and vital in the lives of persons with albinism.
Ms Wampata said her child is also on a strict diet, she cannot eat pork meat and sometimes they have little food to eat.
She said the biggest challenge is in the summer season because of the sun, the child develops sores and it disturbs her going to sell because there is no-one to help her look after the child.
Ms Wampata said a number of her relatives thinks she has bad luck that is why she gave birth to an albino.
It is against the background of stigmatisation and discrimination that albinos face that a network has been launched to help sensitise people that albinos are people who need equal treatment.
Albinism is a disorder in which the individual suffers from a complete or partial lack of the pigment in the skin.
When exposed to sunlight, the skin of an albino does not acquire a tan. Instead, it remains light and there is a greater risk of skin cancer.
People with albinism often have trouble with their eyesight. They may wear glasses or contact lenses to help correct problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or stigmatism.
Others might need eye surgery. Just as there are different degrees of albinism, there are also different levels of eye problems for a person who has the condition.
Newly launched Albinism Network national director Dickson Konkola  says his organisation will be working with the communities to raise awareness on the plight of albinos and help reduces the  stigma and discrimination they face.
Mr Konkola said people with albinism are just like anyone else, with the same lifespan and ability to reach their goals.
“Living with any medical condition during the teen years can be difficult, and albinism is no exception. Because the social scene can be more about fitting in than standing out, young people with albinism may face bullying or prejudice,” he said.
Mr Konkola thanked the PF government for working towards improving the welfare of the disabled, including albinos, on their agenda.
Mr Konkola said the commitment by the government will help improve the attention the albinos receive in public health institutions.
He appealed to Government to train more health personnel in yellow firm diagnosis for albinos and help in the provision of sunscreen creams.
Deputy Minister of Health Christopher Mulenga said it will include the provision of sunscreen creams for albinos in the private sector to make the cream affordable and accessible.
Mr Mulenga said albinos need special care and treatment through the provision of sunscreen in the public health institutions as they are susceptible to acquiring skin cancer.
“Albinism has far-reaching implications for our society, considering the health implications it has on the population and some of the health challenges such as blindness and low vision.
“This could only be managed with provision of information,” Mr Mulenga said.
The minister was speaking in Lusaka yesterday during the launch of the Albinism Initiative Network of Zambia last week.
Mr Mulenga said the Patriotic Front (PF) government is committed to improving the welfare of the poor, especially albinos, who continue to suffer the brunt of poverty in the nation today.
He said his ministry will continue to provide policy guideline and ensure that the welfare of all vulnerable groups, including albinos, is taken into consideration.
Mr Mulenga said one of the challenges in the heath sector is that of inadequate human resource which has a negative impact on the delivery of quality health services.
He said his ministry has put up plans to train health workers in order to provide specialised skin services.
Mr Mulenga urged members of the albinism network to work hard and co-operate with relevant line ministries to ensure the attainment of its objectives.
One objective of the network is to educate the Zambian public on albinism as well as to look into the well-being of the albinos.
Albinism is not a curse. It’s only a biological anomaly that does not affect a person’s emotions, abilities or intelligence. It affects only the colour of the skin. It is high time stigmatisation was put to a halt and allow albinos to have a normal life like everyone else.