Hyperopia Explained – Hypermetropia, or farsightedness, is a refractive error. The eye is smaller than normal.The light is not able to be brought to focus on the retina, As a result distant objects clear, while close-up objects are blurry. Many people have some degree of farsightedness. Usually it does not interfere with normal vision to the extent that myopia does. Myopia or nearsightedness allows you to see near but not far.This is because in younger people the strong muscle action can overcome the deficiency.
In fact, hyperopia may not become a significant problem until you reach your late 30s, when you suddenly discover you need reading glasses long before your friends.
Common vision screenings – including those that often happen in schools – are usually ineffective at detecting hyperopia, since farsightedness allows people to clearly identify letters on an eye chart. In order to accurately diagnose hyperopia, it is important to undergo a complete examination with an experienced ophthalmologist like Dr. Khanna.
Understanding Farsightedness or Hypermetropia
Hyperopia occurs when the overall length of your eyeball is too short, or the power of the cornea/lens complex is too weak. Because of this, your cornea lacks the necessary curvature to bring near objects into sharp focus. If you are farsighted, you will subconsciously exert extra effort to maintain clear distance vision, and make even more of an effort to see things clearly up close. This can lead to eye fatigue and general discomfort.
Some other common symptoms of hyperopia are:
- Eye strain
- Headaches after close work (e.g. reading, computer work)
- Need to hold objects farther from your eyes to see them clearly
Most people with hyperopia do not need treatment until later in life. When you are young, your eyes are usually able to adjust to compensate for farsightedness. However, people with more pronounced hyperopia may benefit from glasses and contact lenses to relieve the amount of stress on their eyes.
Treating Hyperopia or farsightedness
The treatment of choice would depend on your age and power of your prescription. Glasses and Contact lenses have been the methods of the last few centuries. Contact lens to correct farsightedness are thicker. They are therefore more uncomfortable. They also prevent oxygen reaching the inside of the eye.
For low powers lasik would be a good option. Lasik eye surgery is an excellent way to treat hyperopia with long-lasting results. This incredibly effective refractive surgery procedure works by changing the shape of your cornea, allowing light to properly focus on the surface of your retina. Lasik is capable of treating a wide range of hyperopia cases with excellent results. However, some people may not be perfect candidates for Lasik.
For higher powers intralase created flaps with allegretto wavefront optimized laser pattern would be treatment of choice. The latest Allegretto 500 laser has been delivering awesome results.
If these procedures are not right for you, Dr. Khanna may recommend an alternative vision correction procedure for hyperopia, such as:
- Superlasik
- Refractive Lens Exchange
Hyperopia in people over 45 – For patients over forty-five with farsightedness, newer treatment modalities are available to correct problems with distance, middle, and even near vision. decrease in near vision is termed as Presbyopia.
Pi in Eye is a cure for hyperopia in this age group. It will treat multiple disorders with one procedure. You can significantly reduce farsightedness, presbyopia and even cataracts with this treatment modality. This short procedure has been of great help to baby boomers who were never candidates for lasik eye surgery.
You can read more about this in the book titled Pi in Eye
If you have lived with hyperopia all your life – or if you believe you may have hyperopia, but have never been properly diagnosed – please contact The Khanna Institute today to schedule a free initial consultation. We can help you experience the gift of clear vision.
We serve patients throughout the Los Angeles area, with offices in Beverly Hills and Westlake Village, California. Please let us evaluate your eyes using modern technology like colored corneal topography, wavefront and auto refractors.
By
Rajesh Khanna, MD
Serving Los Angeles County, California and Surrounding Communities
