Can Farsightedness Be Cured? Here Are the Treatment Options

Farsightedness, also known as hyperopia, is a refractive error in which incoming light is not focused directly on the retina but instead tends to focus behind it. This condition can make nearby objects appear blurry, while objects farther away are generally seen more clearly.

Common signs of farsightedness include blurred near vision, eye strain or fatigue when reading, frequent squinting, and headaches after close-up activities.

So, what causes farsightedness and can it be cured? Read on to learn more about the available vision correction and treatment options.

Can Farsightedness Be Cured?

What is farsightedness? In general, farsightedness is a refractive error related to the shape of the eyeball or the eye’s ability to bend light. One common cause of farsightedness is a shorter-than-normal eyeball that makes light focus behind the retina.

Since farsightedness relates to the eye's structure and refractive system, it cannot be cured with eye exercises or certain medications.

However, farsightedness-related vision problems can be corrected to improve visual clarity. Eyeglasses and contact lenses can help redirect light onto the retina.

For adults who meet certain criteria, refractive surgery may also be an option to reduce dependence on corrective eyewear.

So, what is the difference between nearsightedness and farsightedness? Both are refractive errors, but they have different focal points. With nearsightedness, or myopia, light focuses in front of the retina, causing distant objects to appear blurry.

In contrast, with farsightedness, light focuses behind the retina, and symptoms are more likely to occur when viewing nearby objects.

How to Manage Farsightedness

Managing farsightedness depends on factors such as age, the degree of farsightedness, corneal condition, overall eye health, and daily activity needs. Some options to consider include:

Eyeglassess

Eyeglasses are one of the most common options for correcting hyperopia. Plus lenses help increase the eye’s refractive power, allowing light to be focused more accurately on the retina.

For mild farsightedness, you may only need eyeglasses when reading or doing other close-up tasks. For higher degrees of farsightedness, your ophthalmologist may recommend wearing glasses more frequently based on your vision needs.

Contact Lenses

Contact lenses work on a similar principle to eyeglasses by correcting the direction of incoming light so it focuses properly on the retina. This option may suit people who prefer to do daily activities without wearing glasses.

Your eye condition should determine the type, size, and prescription strength of contact lenses. Since contact lenses come into direct contact with the surface of the eye, they should be used based on the results of an eye examination and according to your ophthalmologist’s instructions.

LASIK

Can LASIK fix farsightedness? LASIK is a refractive surgery that can correct hyperopia in patients who meet the eligibility criteria. The procedure reshapes the cornea to alter its refractive power, allowing light to focus more accurately on the retina.

At JEC, the flap creation process in LASIK can be performed using femtosecond laser technology, also known as a bladeless technique. A laser then reshapes the cornea to achieve the required refractive correction.

ReLEx® SMILE

ReLEx® SMILE is a vision correction procedure that uses a femtosecond laser to work within the corneal layers without creating a flap. The laser treatment itself is brief, lasting only a matter of seconds.

However, based on the candidate criteria for JEC services, ReLEx® SMILE is primarily intended for nearsightedness and combinations of nearsightedness with astigmatism.

Therefore, this procedure is not a standard option for farsightedness. An ophthalmologist will first perform a comprehensive examination to determine the most appropriate vision correction procedure based on the patient’s refractive condition.

Farsightedness that Can Be Corrected with Laser Treatment

Not everyone with farsightedness is immediately eligible for laser treatment. Laser treatment may be considered for hyperopia within a certain range.

LASIK is generally recommended for hyperopia up to around +3 diopters and, in certain cases, may be considered up to approximately +4 diopters after an evaluation by an ophthalmologist. In addition to the degree of farsightedness, the refractive error, the bending of light as it passes through the cornea and eye lens so that it focuses properly on the retina, should generally have remained relatively stable for around 12 months.

That is why laser treatment is generally performed on adults. The eyes must also be healthy and free from certain conditions that could make laser treatment less suitable.

An ophthalmologist will evaluate the thickness and shape of the cornea, the degree of refractive error, the condition of the ocular surface, and overall eye health. These examinations matter because farsightedness alone is not enough to determine whether someone is a suitable candidate for laser treatment.

Alternative Procedures to Laser Treatment

If you do not meet the criteria for laser treatment, an ophthalmologist may consider a lens-based procedure as an alternative in certain cases. This option may be considered, for example, for higher degrees of hyperopia or when an eye lens condition requires separate treatment.

One option is an Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL), which involves placing an additional lens inside the eye without replacing the natural lens.

Another option is Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), which involves replacing the eye’s natural lens with an intraocular lens. RLE may be considered, particularly in older adults or when presbyopia has already developed.

An ophthalmologist should make the choice between eyeglasses, contact lenses, laser procedures, and lens-based procedures based on a comprehensive examination.

To find out whether laser treatment can correct your farsightedness, consult JEC Eye Hospitals and Clinics through its LASIK and ReLEx® SMILE services.

JEC Eye Hospitals and Clinics’ vision correction services are supported by bladeless femtosecond laser technology to help ensure precision during procedures. For certain procedures, laser treatment itself may take only a matter of seconds. An ophthalmologist will help determine the most appropriate method based on your eye condition and vision needs.