Hyperopia Treatments
There are many options available for hyperopia treatment, from traditional corrective lenses to laser-assisted refractive surgery. Based on the degree of your refractive error, your age, your lifestyle, and other factors, your ophthalmologist will help you determine the best course of treatment for your farsightedness.
Glasses and Contact Lenses
Wearing glasses or contact lenses is the most traditional hyperopia treatment and, in many cases, remains a good option for farsighted patients. Unlike other hyperopia treatment options, corrective lenses do not require invasive procedures and are completely adjustable if your prescription changes. They are often ideal for children and teens, as refractive errors tend to change frequently prior to adulthood.
LASIK
LASIK refractive surgery is a highly popular and successful option for many farsighted people who would rather not have to wear glasses or contact lenses. First, the doctor makes a thin flap on the surface of the cornea. Then, the corneal tissue beneath is carefully reshaped with an excimer laser. Finally, the flap is replaced and the surgery is complete. Recently, technological developments have made it possible to map the tiny peculiarities of each person’s eyes. The individualized map is then used to remove precise amounts of corneal tissue. This procedure is referred to as custom LASIK. There are several advantages of LASIK surgery, including a short healing time, high success rate, and the ability to correct a wider range of refractive errors than other types of surgery. LASIK patients sometimes have side effects such as dry eye, glare, and halos around lights at night. Although LASIK is an effective hyperopia treatment for many, some people will not be good candidates for the surgery, including those without a stable refractive error, pregnant or nursing women, or people with thin corneas.
PRK
Another effective hyperopia treatment is PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy. Like LASIK, PRK involves the use of a laser to reshape the cornea; unlike LASIK, the doctor does not create a corneal flap. Instead, the epithelial cells at the outermost layer of the cornea are removed with an alcohol solution. Because there is no flap to cover the cornea while it heals, the healing time with PRK is longer, but it is a good option for those who may not be candidates for LASIK due to thin corneas.
LASEK
LASEK is a variation of PRK that involves weakening the cornea’s epithelial cells with an alcohol solution and folding them back. The folded layer of cells is similar to the corneal flap made with LASIK, but is much thinner. The laser is then applied to reshape the cornea. Much more of the corneal tissue can be treated this way while the protective qualities of a corneal flap are retained. In rare cases, the epithelial cells may not hold up well enough to be replaced. This is not a serious problem, but it makes the procedure a PRK treatment instead, which may extend healing time. Although the FDA has not yet approved the excimer laser for this particular procedure, LASEK has been shown to be a safe and effective hyperopia treatment.
Epi-LASIK
Similar to LASEK, Epi-LASIK is a newer type of refractive surgery in which an epithelial flap is created with a super-fine blade, instead of an alcohol solution. With Epi-LASIK, the chance of the cells becoming too unstable to be replaced is reduced. This hyperopia treatment is suitable for people with thin corneas as well as those who have a relatively high degree of farsightedness.
Conductive Keratoplasty
Conductive keratoplasty, or CK, is a different type of refractive surgery. Rather than utilizing a laser, which emits light energy, CK uses radiofrequency energy. Another unique characteristic of CK is that it does not involve the removal of any corneal tissue. Instead, an instrument with a tiny probe on the end is placed at specific points around the periphery of the cornea, emitting energy at each point. The treatment causes collagen to contract, shrinking the circumference of the cornea and changing the shape of the curve. If the procedure is done properly, the change in the shape of the cornea will improve refraction in the eye, allowing the patient to see clearly. CK is an effective hyperopia treatment option for patients with mild to moderate degrees of farsightedness.
Talk to a Specialist in Your Area to Discuss Your Treatment Options
To learn more about the various hyperopia treatment options available, or to find out which of them is the best option for you, visit an ophthalmologist near you.
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