LASIK is an effective laser eye surgery that can reduce reliance on corrective lenses and significantly improve your vision. It is an excellent treatment for refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Now let’s see how LASIK can help treat farsightedness.
LASIK can also correct farsightedness (also known as hyperopia) by changing the shape of the cornea (that is, increasing the cornea’s curvature). It corrects how light enters your eye, so your retina receives light differently so you can see clearly without glasses or contact lenses.
About farsightedness (hyperopia)
Farsightedness is the inability to see near objects clearly and the ability to see distant objects. It can result from problems with the lens of the eye, the cornea, or both. This condition is the opposite of myopia (myopia).
Hyperopia is caused by improper focusing of light passing through the eye. Instead of focusing light on the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye), the light is focused behind the retina.
LASIK is an excellent treatment for hyperopia when vision problems result from refractive error. In other words, LASIK can treat hyperopia if it results from a cornea deformity. LASIK surgery reshapes the corneal tissue so light is appropriately focused on the retina.
In general, LASIK is not an ideal treatment option when hyperopia is related to the shape or curvature of the lens.
How effective is LASIK in treating farsightedness?
LASIK is very effective in treating farsightedness associated with corneal contours. The majority of LASIK patients achieve visual acuity of approximately 20/40 or better. It means you don’t need glasses or contact lenses to see clearly. The likelihood of success for LASIK continues to increase. It may even lead to better outcomes for LASIK patients today.
Presbyopia: Hyperopia with Age
Another form of hyperopia is presbyopia. Presbyopia is age-related hyperopia caused by loss of flexibility of the eye lens and weakening of the muscles that help control the eye lens. When this happens, nearby objects become less visible.
- Eye strain when reading
- Need for bright light when reading
- Viewing print significantly alters vision quality
- Frequent squinting to see near objects
- Treatment of presbyopia Monovision as LASIK
Regarding the eye’s lens, This is known as Monovision LASIK. Monovision LASIK treats near vision in one eye and distance vision in the other. It helps improve the patient’s overall vision and address presbyopia problems.
Alternatives to LASIK for Treatment of Hyperopia
LASIK and PRK are possible surgical alternatives. These refractive surgeries use safe surgical lasers to reshape the cornea, but the process is slightly different. In some cases, the eye’s natural lens replacement is recommended to treat hyperopia. It includes surgical insertion of an intraocular lens (IOL).
Prescription glasses and contact lenses are the best non-surgical solutions. Your optometrist will work closely with you to help you find the best lenses for your needs.
Farsightedness causes nearby objects to appear blurry, allowing a person to see more clearly. Farsightedness can also cause eye fatigue, such as burning eyes and pain in and around the eyes. Farsightedness differs from presbyopia, which is caused by a loss of elasticity in the eye’s lens. Presbyopia usually occurs around 45, and LASIK does not improve this condition unless the patient treats one eye for near vision and gives up some distance vision. It is called monovision.
Children with severe hyperopia may develop strabismus due to difficulty concentrating. This condition is sometimes referred to as accommodative esotropia and usually begins in early childhood. Uncorrected visual impairment can endanger the affected person’s and others’ safety, especially while driving a vehicle or operating heavy equipment. It occurs due to a short eyeball, causing light entering the eye to be out of focus on the retina at the back of the eye. This problem is called refractive error.
What is the long-term outlook for hyperopic patients undergoing LASIK eye surgery?
A 2018 study used light diffusion analysis to determine corneal surface stability after 12 months of hyperopic LASIK surgery. Another study published in the journal Ophthalmology found that LASIK eye surgery was moderately effective in correcting mild hyperopia (+1.00 to +3.00 D). Still, some regression was observed during the 5-year follow-up period. Still, there are concerns about deterioration due to the cornea’s natural healing response to fill in the ablated tissue, resulting in some loss of efficacy over time. To find out if eye surgery is the proper treatment, talk to your doctor about whether you’re a suitable candidate. About any pre-existing medical conditions and any over-the-counter or prescription medications you’re taking.
Hyperopia can cause near objects to appear blurry. Hyperopia is widespread, affecting approximately 10-30% of the world’s population. The prevalence of hyperopia increases with age, with at least half of all people over 65 having some degree of hyperopia.
But if you are farsighted, Lasik is the best solution.
