Hyperopia: Understanding and Correcting This Visual Impairment
What is hyperopia?
Do you often experience eye strain or headaches after prolonged visual effort? Do you have trouble seeing clearly up close when reading, working on a screen, or looking at your phone? These symptoms may be related to hyperopia.
Causes and symptoms
Hyperopia is a visual impairment resulting from an eye that is too short or a cornea that is not powerful enough, preventing nearby images from focusing on the retina. Depending on its degree, it can manifest itself in different ways:
- High hyperopia : Often detected in childhood, requiring early and constant correction.
- Mild to moderate hyperopia : It may go unnoticed for several years, as the brain naturally compensates for this defect. With age, this compensation becomes more difficult, leading to blurred vision, first up close, then sometimes also from a distance.
- Changes over time : Mild hyperopia may initially be perceived as early presbyopia, affecting reading and screen use.
What solutions are available to correct hyperopia?
Refractive surgery is an effective and permanent alternative to glasses and contact lenses. It works by reshaping the cornea to improve focus, resulting in clear vision at all distances.
How does the procedure work?
To correct hyperopia, the goal is to increase the curvature of the cornea. The procedure mainly affects the periphery of the cornea in order to improve the focusing of images on the retina.
Correction techniques at PHENICIA VISION
- LASIK : Ideal for mild to moderate hyperopia, with rapid recovery.
- PresbyLASIK : Solution suitable for patients with hyperopia associated with presbyopia.
- PKR : Alternative technique for thin corneas or certain professional and sporting requirements.
FAQ – Correction of Hyperopia at PHENICIA VISION
Hyperopia is a vision disorder that makes it difficult to focus on nearby objects. It is caused by an eye that is too short or a cornea that is not curved enough, preventing the image from forming correctly on the retina.
Eye strain, headaches after prolonged visual effort, blurred near vision (reading, screens). In some cases, distance vision may also be affected.
Yes. Mild hyperopia can be compensated for naturally during childhood, but over time, this compensation diminishes, causing blurred vision, first up close and then sometimes also from a distance.
Refractive surgery can permanently correct hyperopia by reshaping the cornea.
- LASIK : Fast and effective correction of mild to moderate hyperopia.
- PresbyLASIK : Suitable for patients with hyperopia associated with presbyopia.
- PKR : Alternative for thin corneas or certain professions requiring specific visual conditions.
No. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia with eye drops. You may experience slight temporary discomfort after the procedure.
- LASIK and PresbyLASIK : Clear vision the very next day, quick return to normal activities.
- PKR : More gradual recovery over 48 to 72 hours.
Anyone whose hyperopia has stabilized and who has no contraindications after a thorough eye exam.
Yes, the correction is permanent. However, natural changes in vision may require adjustments over time.
No, this is a cosmetic procedure that is not covered by Social Security. However, some mutual insurance companies offer partial reimbursement.
Some patients may temporarily experience:
- Temporary dry eyes
- Slight sensitivity to light
- Gradual visual adaptation in the first few days