Longsightedness, from glasses and contacts to LASIK, RLE and ICL.

Farsightedness, longsightedness or hyperopia is a refractive error where the eye focuses light behind the retina rather than on it. Distance vision is usually better than near vision, and reading tires the eyes quickly. It is very common and usually treated with glasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery.

In longsightedness the eye is too short or the cornea too flat, so light focuses behind the retina. In short-sightedness (myopia) the eye is too long or the cornea too curved, so light focuses in front of the retina. Longsighted people usually notice near blur first, while short-sighted people notice distance blur.

Presbyopia is the age-related loss of the eye’s ability to change focus, starting from the mid-40s. It is not the same as hyperopia, but it adds to any underlying longsightedness. Many people who have coped without glasses in their 30s find they need reading glasses in their 40s because presbyopia is unmasking a small amount of hidden hyperopia.

Yes, up to a point. LASIK, PRK and SMILE can correct low to moderate hyperopia, generally up to around +3D. For higher prescriptions or when presbyopia is also a factor, refractive lens exchange or a premium-IOL cataract operation is often a better match. A specialist refractive workup guides the choice.

Refractive lens exchange (RLE) is the same operation as modern cataract surgery, but done on a clear lens for refractive reasons. The natural lens is removed and replaced with a monofocal, multifocal, EDOF or toric intraocular lens. It is well suited to higher hyperopia and to people who also want to address presbyopia.

Often yes. Significant or asymmetric hyperopia in childhood can cause accommodative esotropia (a convergent squint) and amblyopia (lazy eye). Specialist paediatric ophthalmology and orthoptics assess the prescription under cycloplegia, prescribe glasses full-time where needed, and sometimes add patching to strengthen the weaker eye.