Presbyopia vs. Hyperopia: What’s the Difference and How Are They Treated?
Do things look more and more blurry as you try to look at them up close? Trouble reading or performing other tasks that require a close-up view can become increasingly difficult if you have conditions like hyperopia or presbyopia. Both can prevent you from seeing things clearly in your near field of vision, but they have different causes and treatments.
Hyperopia vs. Presbyopia: What’s the Difference?
You may be more familiar with hyperopia by its common name: farsightedness. It means you have difficulty seeing things up close, although you can see well at a distance. Presbyopia is the reason so many people over the age of 40 use reading glasses, making reading and similar tasks more difficult as you age.
Hyperopia
The two factors that primarily affect the development of hyperopia are the shape of your eye and the curve of your corneas, which are clear structures that help focus light. If the shape of your eye makes it too short, light focuses behind the retina, and your vision is blurry. While you may be born with hyperopia, it can get worse over time.
Presbyopia
Unlike hyperopia, presbyopia is an age-related form of farsightedness. In this case, your lenses are affected. These light-focusing structures can flex and adjust to accommodate light from different distances. As it ages, it becomes less flexible, making it unable to adjust for close-up images. While hyperopia affects a percentage of the population, almost everyone will develop presbyopia after the age of 40.
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Hyperopia vs. Presbyopia: How are they Treated?
You have many options to help you see more clearly if you have either of these conditions. Only a consultation can determine which are best for you and will suit your needs and lifestyle.
Corrective Lenses
One of the most common treatments for farsightedness is glasses or contact lenses. These offer a non-surgical solution with little to no risk and work well for many people. However, others find them inconvenient and a hindrance to their activities. People with presbyopia often use non-prescription reading glasses before needing prescription ones.
Laser Eye Surgery
Laser eye surgery includes procedures like LASIK. These procedures work by reshaping your cornea so it focuses light better. They are an effective way to treat hyperopia and may provide 20/20 vision. PRESBYOND® is a type of laser eye surgery developed to treat presbyopia. It provides binocular vision, letting you see things close-up more clearly.
Refractive Lens Exchange
This procedure can be used to treat hyperopia or presbyopia. Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) replaces your natural lens with an artificial one that corrects your vision. The new lens will remain in place for a lifetime and will never develop cataracts, making them a long-lasting option that can correct even severe hyperopia.
EVO ICL™
This implantable option for treating hyperopia provides extraordinarily sharp, clear results, even for those who cannot have laser eye surgery. It is a corrective collagen-based lens that is placed over your natural one to adjust the focus of incoming light. It can stay in place for life and makes an excellent alternative to LASIK for many people.
Take the Next Step
To learn more about presbyopia or hyperopia, please schedule your consultation by either filling out the form on this page or by calling (866) 458-1545. We look forward to helping you!
