What is Long-sighted Vision (Hyperopia)?

Long-sightedness (hyperopia) is a common type of refractive error, affecting about a quarter of the population, which makes it difficult to focus on objects up close, and sometimes distant objects too. Visual strain, concentration difficulties, fatigue and headaches are common symptoms associated with hyperopia. Long-sighted vision is caused either by the eyeball being too short or the cornea having too little curvature.

Is Long-sighted Vision (Hyperopia) Surgery Permanent?

Modern surgical techniques are very effective in reducing or eliminating the need to wear glasses or contact lenses to correct hyperopia. Like any other organ, the eye is subject to natural changes which can alter your vision with age, however, other surgeries are available to correct these changes if and when they happen. 

What are my Long-sighted Vision (Hyperopia) Treatment Options?

Long-sighted vision can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, laser eye surgery or intraocular lens surgery.

Laser eye surgery is primarily performed on patients who want their vision corrected and who no longer want the hassle of wearing glasses or contact lenses. Whilst glasses are fashionable, they are undesirable for people who enjoy reading or spend a great deal of their time in front of a computer screen.

Contact lenses require high maintenance and many people find them uncomfortable and irritating. Laser eye surgery has changed all of that. You can now have your vision corrected quickly, with minimal discomfort and very little downtime.

Corrective procedures are performed with an excimer laser, implantable contact lens or a refractive lens exchange.

Available treatments include:

RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange)

Refractive lens exchange (RLE) replaces the clear natural lens with an implant to achieve sharper focus, reducing the need for corrective lenses. The artificial lens is carefully selected by the surgeon to ensure an optimal result. Multifocal lenses or a monovision setup can be used to correct both distance and reading vision.

PRK or ASLA (Photorefractive Keratectomy)

Surface laser ablation (PRK) removes a layer of corneal tissue to help flatten the cornea and allow light rays to focus precisely on the retina. Some corneas are irregular in shape or too thin for a flap to be created. Often a surface laser procedure can still be used to correct the vision without creating a flap. The procedure will still result in clear vision comparable to LASIK, however, a longer recovery period is needed.

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis)

Flap surgery (LASIK) creates a hinged piece of tissue with a controlled blade or precision femtosecond laser, and is returned to its original position. LASIK is a method of laser eye surgery performed by our specialists to correct the vision of people no longer wanting to wear glasses or contact lenses. Numbing drops are used and very little pain and discomfort is felt in the majority of our patients. LASIK reports a 96% success rate.

ICL (Implantable Contact Lens)

Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL) are permanent lenses made to the patient’s prescription and inserted into the eye. ICL may be used for patients who are unsuitable for laser correction due to thin and irregular corneas, or high prescription. The procedure results in excellent quality of vision and is reversible if required.