What phrase accurately describes hyperopia?

Hyperopia, commonly known as farsightedness, is primarily characterized by the difficulty in focusing on close objects. This condition occurs when the eyeball is too short relative to the curvature of the cornea, causing light rays to focus behind the retina instead of directly on it. As a result, individuals with hyperopia may see distant objects clearly while struggling to focus on nearby items, such as reading material or small text.

The other options provided do not accurately describe hyperopia. Difficulty seeing in dim light relates more to conditions like night blindness or retinitis, where vision is impaired in low-light conditions. Blurred vision at all distances may indicate a different type of refractive error, such as astigmatism or a more severe form of vision impairment. Clear vision at all distances describes normal vision or emmetropia, rather than hyperopia. Thus, the correct phrase that encapsulates the primary issue faced by those with hyperopia is the inability to focus closely.