Hyperopia is the medical term for farsightedness. This occurs when an eye is too short for the cornea's curvature. Light rays entering the eye focus behind the retina, and as a result a blurred image is produced.

The term ‘farsightedness’ means that you can see ‘far’ objects more clearly without your glasses, but objects close up appear blurry or require significant effort to focus. Some farsighted people under the age range of 35-45 can use their focusing muscles to 'pull' the image forward onto the retina, allowing them to see clearly. However, due to the normal aging process, most can not overcome the effects of hyperopia, especially in severe cases, and need reading glasses or bifocals.

The table below shows the categories of severity for hyperopia:

Mild Hyperopia < +2.00 diopters
Moderate Hyperopia +2.00 to +4.00 diopters
Severe Hyperopia +4.00 to +6.00 diopters
Extreme Hyperopia > +6.00 diopters

Every patient and prescription is looked at individually to decide what is best for them. We are very prudent and thorough in deciding whether you are a good candidate for laser vision correction and will be happy to discuss the potential outcome and risks involved for a patient with your particular prescription.

Zion Eye Institute is dedicated to providing the highest quality eye care to patients in Southern Utah, Nevada and Northern Arizona.

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