What’s the Difference Between Hyperopia and Presbyopia?

You may have one of two conditions if you struggle to see things at close distances. These conditions affect the angle of light entering your eyes and can cause blurry vision at certain distances. Hyperopia and presbyopia are two common types of refractive errors. They occur for different reasons, and we may recommend different treatments, but you can achieve clearer vision with both conditions. 

What are Hyperopia and Presbyopia?

Difficulty reading or clearly seeing nearby objects is a common problem that becomes even more frequent with age. These refractive errors cause light to enter your eyes at the wrong angle, creating a blurry image. Hyperopia (farsightedness) and presbyopia can cause the same problem, but they have several important differences based on their cause. 

What’s the Difference Between Hyperopia and Presbyopia?

The most important difference between these two conditions is why they occur. The underlying cause determines who is more likely to be affected. 

Causes

Hyperopia occurs when your eye’s normal shape is too flat from front to back. This change causes light to focus at a point past the retina, leading to blurry vision. You are born with your eye shape, which can have genetic and other influences. 

Presbyopia occurs when your eye’s lens becomes stiff and inflexible. The lens naturally changes shape to help you focus at different distances, but by age 40, it begins losing flexibility. This lack of flexibility leads to an inability to focus on nearby objects. 

Age Affected

People with hyperopia were born with the altered shape of their eyes. However, milder cases may go undiagnosed until the person gets older. Your lenses can adjust to the incorrect light angle by working harder, but this can cause eye fatigue and headaches. More severe refractive errors may be diagnosed at a very young age. 

Presbyopia typically occurs in people over the age of 40. By this age, almost all adults have stiffer, less flexible lenses. This condition progresses over time, eventually causing many people to require reading glasses. Unlike hyperopia, presbyopia will affect nearly everyone. 

How are Hyperopia and Presbyopia Treated?

Many people with these conditions look for options beyond glasses or contact lenses. Vold Vision offers several treatment options so we can find the best one for your needs. 

Laser Vision Correction

Laser vision correction is a minimally invasive procedure that reshapes the cornea. Your cornea helps focus light, so changing its shape can correct refractive errors. Types of laser vision correction include LASIK, SMILE, and PRK. We will often recommend this treatment for people with hyperopia and other conditions such as myopia (nearsightedness). Laser vision correction is highly effective but cannot prevent age-related changes like presbyopia. 

Refractive Lens Exchange

Refractive lens exchange replaces your natural lens with a vision-correcting artificial one. It makes an excellent option for treating presbyopia. This artificial lens will not experience age-related changes, which means it will never stiffen or develop cataracts. People with other refractive errors like hyperopia and myopia can also make good candidates for refractive lens exchange. 

What is Recovery Like After Hyperopia or Presbyopia Treatment?

Laser vision correction and refractive lens exchange are minimal-downtime procedures. Most people can see clearly and return to most activities within a day or two. Your surgeon will usually advise avoiding swimming, eye makeup, and contact sports for one week. Some types of laser vision correction require a longer recovery time. 

Am I a Good Candidate for Hyperopia or Presbyopia Treatment?

The majority of people with hyperopia or presbyopia make good candidates. Ideal candidates have reasonable expectations and no eye health issues. Only a consultation can determine which procedure will offer you the best results. You may not be a good candidate if certain medical conditions affect your eyes. 

What Results Will I See With Hyperopia or Presbyopia Treatment?

Many people no longer need glasses or contact lenses after treatment for these conditions. However, these results are not guaranteed. Almost everyone will see vision improvements. You will notice that you can read without as much eye strain and see nearby objects clearly. People who have refractive lens exchange often report that colors look brighter and objects look sharper at near, medium, and long distances. 

Take the Next Step

You’ll benefit not only from the latest technologies available but also from our compassionate, personal approach. You’re more than a patient at Vold Vision in Bentonville and Fayetteville. We strive to make you as comfortable as possible while evaluating the optimal treatment plan just for you. We invite Fayetteville, Rogers, Bentonville, and Springdale residents to contact us today for a consultation at (479) 252-9841.