Which condition is characterized by difficulty seeing things close up?

The condition characterized by difficulty seeing things close up is known as hyperopia, also commonly referred to as farsightedness. In hyperopia, the light entering the eye is focused behind the retina rather than directly on it. This condition makes it challenging for individuals to see objects clearly at a close range, which can result in eyestrain and headaches when attempting tasks that involve near vision, such as reading or working on a computer.

While presbyopia, a condition that typically develops with age, also involves difficulty with close vision, it is specifically due to the loss of elasticity in the lens of the eye, making it harder to focus on close objects. Myopia, or nearsightedness, affects distance vision, while astigmatism brings about distorted vision due to an irregular shape of the cornea or lens. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why hyperopia is the correct answer for difficulty seeing things up close.