Farsightedness or Hyperopia - Treatment Options For This Common Vision Problem

                                                                                         

Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a very common vision problem, affecting up to a quarter of the population. People who are farsighted can see objects that are far away clearly, but have trouble seeing up close, for tasks such as reading or using the computer. If you are farsighted, objects that are close to you may appear blurry. This eye issue occurs when your eye is too short, so that it does not bend light correctly. As a result, the light entering your eye is focused behind instead of directly on the retina. This condition is easily diagnosed through a routine eye exam.

Hyperopia often has a hereditary component, though it can often be caused by eye diseases or other issues. Symptoms of hyperopia include eye strain or headaches, particularly when reading, sewing, or doing other up-close work. Children with farsightedness often have difficulty reading. These symptoms of farsightedness usually appear in early childhood, though normal growth often corrects the problem. Once the eye has stopped growing, at about 9 years of age, corrective measures may need to be taken.

The most common treatments for farsightedness include prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. Glasses may be needed all the time or only when doing close-up work. In some cases, the eyes can adjust to make up for the problem of farsightedness, though glasses may be needed in the future, since as we age our eyes can no longer adjust as easily. Surgical options are usually recommended only for severe cases of farsightedness, though they can also be used for those who do not wish to wear glasses or contacts.

The most popular surgical methods for treating hyperopia are LASIK and other laser eye procedures. These procedures use a laser to reshape the cornea, focusing light directly on the retina rather than behind it. The types of laser procedures used for this condition include H-LASIK, H-LASEK, PRK, thermal keratoplasty, and conductive keratoplasty (CK). Most of these procedures use lasers to remove microscopic amounts of corneal tissue, changing how the light enters your eye. Thermal keratoplasty is uses heat energy to shrink the corneal tissue in a controlled manner, causing it to become more sloped. These procedures are generally used to correct mild to moderate farsightedness.

There are other procedures available to treat more severe cases of hyperopia. One of the most popular is the implantation of a synthetic lens in your eye. Intraocular implants are placed in the eye, where they are better able to focus the light coming into the eye than your natural lens. Some methods involve the removal of the natural lens, while other IOL implants can be used without removing the natural lens.

About the author:
For additional information on LASIK laser vision correction as well as CustomVue WaveFront LASIK and LASIK laser eye surgery in Long Island, it is important to speak with skilled surgeons about your options.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com