Understanding Hyperopia and How it Affects Your Vision, VIC

Hyperopia, or long-sightedness, is a common type of refractive error that generally means you can see distant objects clearly but struggle to focus on objects up close. It’s an eye-focusing disorder, rather than a disease, which means your eye doesn’t refract (bend) light to a single focus so you can see images clearly.

NewVision Clinics helps patients in Melbourne improve their eyesight with our tailored hyperopia treatment options. Below, we look at what causes hyperopia and available treatment options.

What Causes Hyperopia?

Long-sightedness is common, accounting for a quarter of refractive errors, and is typically inherited. It occurs when your cornea (the clear surface at the front of your eye) is too flat or your eyeball is too short. This means incoming light rays are focused behind your retina instead of directly on it.

Hyperopia first affects near vision while impacting both distant and near vision later in life. This is because our eyes can correct the focus in hyperopic eyes when we’re younger. This flexibility in the natural lens is gradually lost with aging, however.

Symptoms of Long Sightedness

Symptoms of hyperopia can be subtle compared to myopia (short-sightedness). Some patients may struggle to maintain a clear focus on close objects while others may be unable to read at all. Patients with long-sightedness can find their eyesight deteriorates over time, which can cause frustration.

Hyperopia Treatment

Hyperopia treatment options can vary depending on multiple factors. This includes your age and the severity of the condition. Prescription glasses and contact lenses are the most common treatments; however, many patients elect to undergo laser eye surgery to achieve a longer-term solution.

Laser eye surgery treats hyperopia by steepening the cornea so that it can effectively refocus incoming light rays onto the retina. This helps restore clear and focused vision. Depending on your circumstances, your eye surgeon may recommend LASIK(Laser-Assisted-In-Situ-Keratomileusis) or PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) surgery. In more severe cases, refractive lens exchange may be the preferred option.

Learn More About Hyperopia Treatment in Melbourne

If you’re considering laser eye surgery to treat your long-sightedness, book an obligation-free consultation with NewVision Clinics in Melbourne to see if you’re a good candidate for hyperopia treatment.