Many people have heard the terms farsightedness or hyperopia before, but they may not be aware what it means. That’s okay if you fall into that camp, and you should know that you are not alone in wondering. When you visit our Rapid City laser eye surgery center, we will be able to discuss hyperopia in much greater detail with you. Right now we’d like to go over this vision problem in brief, covering in just basic terms the symptoms, causes, and treatments available for hyperopia.
What is hyperopia (farsightedness)?
Hyperopia is a kind of refractive error. Refractive errors are common vision problems that are related to the way that light passes through the eyes. Other refractive errors include myopia (or nearsightedness) and astigmatism (which can often accompany myopia and hyperopia).
Symptoms of Farsightedness
The most common symptom of farsightedness is blurry vision of objects that are close up. People who experience hyperopia, for example, will have trouble reading a book or a computer screen but will have no trouble seeing someone across the room or reading traffic signs well down the highway. When you visit our Rapid City laser eye care and vision center for a consultation, we’ll be able to determine the severity of your hyperopia.
Causes of Farsightedness
The causes of hyperopia are many. In most cases, it’s caused by poor lens shape or errors in the shape of the cornea. Both will cause the light entering the eye to focus behind the retina rather than on the retina. Other causes of hyperopia may include injuries to the eyes, migraine headaches, and sinus infections. Our Rapid City eye doctors will ideally want to identify the root cause of the hyperopia and address that accordingly.
Treatment of Farsightedness
There are numerous treatments available for farsightedness that can have exceptional results. One of the most common treatments for farsightedness is the use of prescription lenses. Prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses can help improve overall vision and brig objects that are nearby into better focus. Some people can get by simply by having reading glasses, for instance.
One of the most popular treatments for farsightedness and other refractive errors is Rapid City LASIK. LASIK surgery is a safe, laser surgery option that reshapes the cornea. By reshaping the cornea, light will be able to pass through the eye properly, enhancing your vision overall. One of the best things about LASIK is that it often eliminates the need for you to wear prescription lenses.
During your visit to the practice, we will be able to determine which treatment option will be best suited to meet your needs. Not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK, but we will keep all options on the table so that you can undergo the best possible treatment.
