Do you have trouble seeing up-close?

You may be far-sighted!

In order for our eyes to be able to see properly, light rays must be refracted by the tear film, the cornea and the lens so they can focus the image we are looking at onto the layer of light-sensitive cells lining the back of the eye (called the retina). The retina receives the picture formed by these light rays and sends the image to the brain through the optic nerve.

Hyperopia, or otherwise referred to as farsightedness, is a type of refractive error which occurs if the eyeball is too short or the cornea (clear front window of the eye) is too flat. As a result, instead of the light rays focusing on the retina to create a sharp image, they focus beyond the retina. This means that while people with short-sight (myopia) can see close objects clearly, vision for those with long-sight (hyperopia) may be blurry when looking at objects at any distance, near or far.

Hyperopia may be hidden while we are young and then become more symptomatic over time as part of the aging process. All young children are hyperopic but it is usually mild enough not to cause problems and then resolves by age 8.

Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of hyperopia can differ from one person to the next. However, the most common symptoms include headaches, aching or burning eyes, fatigue, eyestrain, squinting and difficulty maintaining a clear focus on near objects.

Hyperopia Treatment

When treating farsightedness, the goal is to allow your eyes to focus on objects up close. Hyperopia is usually treated with corrective eyewear, such as contact lenses or eyeglasses.

However, if you are looking for a more long-term and convenient solution, Auckland Eye offers more permanent treatment options, including laser vision correction (SMILE, LASIK or PRK) and Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE).

Laser Vision Correction:
Laser eye surgery aims to improve refractive vision and eliminate the dependency on wearing glasses and contact lenses by permanently changing the shape of the cornea. Following laser eye surgery at Auckland Eye, the vast majority of patients achieve outstanding visual acuity of 20/20 or 6/6, or better. While SMILE is excellent for myopia and astigmatism, LASIK is the best option for hyperopia. The treatment range is more limited than with myopia and our team will be able to tell you if you are suitable.

Refractive Lens Exchange:
By replacing your eyes natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) refractive lens exchange reduces the need for reading glasses or bifocals/graduated lenses by correcting your focusing error to achieve a sharper focus. Since artificial intraocular lenses are not affected by age related changes, refractive lens exchange is designed to last the rest of your life. This may be the best option in older people.

If you are interested in finding out which treatment options are most suitable for your eyes to provide a permanent solution, to book your FREE introductory assessment call 0800 63 93 93 or email: admin@aucklandeye.co.nz

Eye Conditions Eye Conditions Tuesday, 31 Jul 2018

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