What is Far-sightedness?
Farsightedness or Hyperopia is a common form of visual impairment. When the eye receives an image it focuses this behind the eye rather than on the back of the eye. Strong glasses or contact lenses are required to help bring the rays upstream to focus on the retina.
Farsightedness (hyperopia) is a common eye condition in which a person can see distant objects clearly, but objects close by may appear blurred.
What causes far-sightedness?
Far-sightedness (Hyperopia) occurs when light is not refracted properly through the cornea. This is a type of refractive error. Refractive errors can also cause short-sightedness (myopia), and astigmatism. Hyperopia causes light to focus on the back of the retina instead of onto it.
A word about Presbyopia
If you are over 42 and your near sight is gradually being lost and you require READING GLASSES, it is probably caused by increasing hardness of the lens in your eye – the lens can no longer change shape enough to focus. Supracor IntraLASIK can now be used to treat Presbyopia correcting vision at all distances.
For those over 50, a good option for vision correction is Laser Lens Exchange also known as Lens Replacement surgery with implantation of high performance Trifocal lens implants.
There are a number of other criteria that a suitable candidate requires
- Healthy eyes with no disease
- No abnormalities in corneal shape (e.g. keratoconus)
- Prescription within the range of correction
- Do not have a profoundly lazy eye (amblyopia)
- Are not pregnant or nursing
- Are in good general health
Correcting Far-sightedness (Hyperopia)
If the cornea is flat, then IntraLASIK with the Zyoptix Wavefront algorithm is a good option for correction. Plus 5.00 Dioptres and in selected cases more can be treated and the advantage of the Wavefront treatment is the ability to create wide zones with less tissue removal – bespoke and personalised for the individual eye.
There are a number of options available to treat farsightedness, but they generally fall into 3 categories.
These options are highly successful and offer some amazing visual outcomes that have provided life changing results for so many of our patients.
If you think you are far-sighted and are considering vision correction, please contact us on 0800 0112882 where our Patient Liaison Team can speak with you. Alternatively, please click on one of the buttons below and a member of our team can contact you further.
Author Information
Authored by Sheraz Daya MD FACP FACS FRCS(Ed) FRCOphth, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon & Medical Director, June 2019.
Next review due June 2024.