Hyperopia (Farsightedness)

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Hyperopia (Long-Sightedness) 1
Hyperopia (Long-Sightedness) 2
Hyperopia (Long-Sightedness) 3

What is Hyperopia?

Long-sightedness, or hyperopia as it is known medically, is a refractive error of the eye that can be compensated for or corrected. It usually occurs when the eyeball is shorter than required for the curvature (refractive power) of the cornea or more generally when there is a mismatch between the refractive power and the length of your eye. This results in light rays coming to focus in front of the retina; for normal crisp vision the light rays need to focus on the retina.

Hyperopia is naturally present at birth and the early years of life; over the first 5 to 6 years the degree of hyperopia gradually decreases through a process known as emmetropisation. Although this process may continue throughout childhood, a significant proportion of the population will remain hyperopic in adulthood.

  • Headache after prolonged activities that require close visual attention; this is often caused by partially closing the eyelids and prolonged effort (accommodation) of your lens
  • In low degrees of hyperopia, the near vision is blurred, and the distance vision remains clear
  • In moderate degrees the near vision is blurred, and the distance vision remains clearer
  • In higher degrees of long-sightedness, or in the fourth and fifth decades of life when the lens increasingly loses its ability to accommodate, the vision becomes blurred for near, intermediate and distance

Similar to other refractive errors, the cause of long-sightedness is not fully understood. Overall, it represents a failure of emmetropisation, the biological process that matches the length of the eye to its refractive power. Genetic factors are considered to play an important role, as the condition does run in families. Rural living and prolonged outdoor activities have also been implicated in studies. 

Long-sightedness and other refractive errors can be diagnosed by your optometrist (optician) or eye doctor. The examination involves a refraction in order to assess the refractive status of the eye. Other conditions that may co-exist, such as squint and lazy eye, can also be detected.

Hyperopia (Long-Sightedness) 4
Hyperopia causes blurred vision at short distances.

Hyperopia Correction

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How can long-sightedness be treated?

Treatment options for hyperopia include glasses, contact lenses and refractive eye surgery:

  • Spectacles are by far the most common modality for the compensation of long-sightedness. However, they are associated with distortion of your peripheral vision, especially for moderate and high prescriptions, and inconveniences, such as getting wet in the rain, fogging when walking indoors, inability to wear sunglasses and the requirement for separate readers, to mention a few.
  • Contact lenses are also commonly used for long-sightedness and other refractive errors. They are a good option as they provide better quality of vision and overcome the above limitations of spectacles. They do have their own limitations though; they do reduce oxygen delivery to the eye, they can cause dry eye and with prolonged use can lead to contact lens intolerance and sight-threatening infection.
  • A more permanent solution to hyperopia can be provided by refractive surgery. Depending on your prescription, eye measurements and visual needs, a variety of procedures are available, including LASIK, PRESBYOND, phakic IOL, e.g. ICL, and refractive lens exchange.
    Laser eye surgery is an excellent treatment modality that reshapes the cornea. In LASIK, excimer laser sculpts the cornea, increasing its refractive power so that the light rays come into focus on the retina of the eye. LASIK can also incorporate a PRESBYOND blended vision treatment in order to reduce or eliminate your need for reading glasses.
  • An Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) is like a permanent plastic contact lens that is implanted inside your eye, in front of your natural lens. No one can see this phakic lens and you cannot feel its presence in your eye. It is a safe alternative to laser surgery, but it is usually reserved for higher prescriptions when laser eye surgery may not be the best option.

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Marcus Green
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No More Glasses!!!
Aris and the team at the Laser Vision Eye Centre have been amazing! I had my eyes done last weekend and the whole process was really well organised. They answered all my questions and made sure I knew exactly what would happen. My vision is perfect now and I don't need to wear glasses any more. Awesome!! 😀 I would definitely recommend Aris and the Laser Vision Eye Centre.
Jemma Cheung
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Fantastic... PRESBYOND laser procedure
Dr Aris gave me complete confidence in the procedure I was having. At all times I felt I was in very able hands. I choose to have PRESBYOND laser treatment as I lost my reading vision and I had to wear glasses all the time - and I absolutely hated it! With this treatment I am now 3 months after the procedure and can see with great ease and I am enjoying life with out glasses. We achieved better results than ever anticipated.
Victoria Lewis
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Mr David Anderson is one of the leading Consultant Ophthalmologists which is why I chose him to perform my surgery. During the consultation I was very much assured that I was in good hands, but also having the ‘Gold Standard’ of laser eye surgery. It was explained that my best option was LASEK due to an eye infection rendering me contact lens intolerant. This also left me with a slightly reduced tear film... read more.
Mollie
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Excellent Care
I received excellent care throughout my experience at Laser Vision Eye Centre under the clinical leadership of Mr David Anderson. Everything was explained before and as the procedure was carried out. The waiting time for the procedure was considerably shorter than on the NHS and I even received a telephone call from the hospital the next day to check that all was well.
Cheryl Parish
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Life changing experience
I have been very impressed by the level of pre op information given enabling me to make a knowledgeable decision on how to proceed. Mr ANDERSON explained exactly what was going on throughout, which really helped me feel reassured and safe. Post op the aftercare has been amazing, staff even called on a Sunday to check how I was feeling. I would not hesitate to recommend this clinic to everyone.
John Waterman
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LASIK Presbyond Bilateral Laser Surgery
I recently underwent LASIK Presbyond surgery at the Wessex Nuffield Hospital. The surgery was performed by David Anderson and Aris Konstantopoulos and their incredible colleagues. I am so pleased I chose David and his team to carry out the procedure as the attention to detail both before, during and after surgery has been exceptional. Look no further 👀 this is the A Team! I can now write this review without the need for glasses.
Graham Charlesworth
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I have been thoroughly impressed with the level of care and professionalism that Aris and his team have shown at all stages in the process. The initial assessment, the procedure itself and then follow-up consultations. Although this was something that I approached with much trepidation I am really happy with the way that it ended up and the path that I followed.
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