Hyperopia is a refractive error also called farsightedness or longsightedness. This refractive error is an imperfection in your eyes visual system making things up close more difficult to see compared to things far away. Thus the term, farsightedness.

What is Hyperopia

Hyperopia can occur by one of two ways or a combination of both. In a hyperoptic eye, the light is focused too far behind of the retina causing things you look at up close to be blurry. Most people that are farsighted will use their eyes accommodation to help this focusing error. This will work until presbyopia sets in around the age of 40.

The Flat Cornea

The shape or curvature of the cornea on the front of the eye has a lot of do with our vision. In the case of hyperopia, the cornea is too flat causing the light to focus behind of the retina.

The Short Eye

People with hyperopia tend to have a shorter eye whereas people with myopia have a longer, elongated eye.

Prevalence of Hyperopia

Hyperopia (Farsightedness) is the second most common refractive error found in roughly 30% of the adult population.

How To Correct Hyperopia

Glasses, contacts, and eye surgeries can all correct hyperopia in your eyes.

Glasses and Contact Lenses for Hyperopia

Glasses and contact lenses do not necessarily correct farsightedness as much as they pull the light forward to focus on the retina. This focusing of light offsets the blurriness to provide clear vision at distance and near.

LASIK and Eye Surgery for Hyperopia

Eye surgeries such as LASIK, ICL’s and more are a great treatment option for hyperopia.

While LASIK is best suited for people with myopia, many people with hyperopia can benefit from LASIK.

More commonly, Implantable Contact Lenses (ICLs) or clear lens extraction are used to treat hyperopia. These eye surgeries are an effective and safe way to correct your farrsightedness and reduce the need or your dependency on glasses or contact lenses.