Hyperopia (long-sight)

People with good eyesight are able to form a clear image of a distant object on the retina without any help from glasses or contact lenses. This is because the combined focusing power of the cornea and the lens is a good fit to the length of the eye. Hyperopic people first need reading glasses, then find that their distance vision is deteriorating too.

If you are hyperopic, you do not have enough focusing power. Positive lenses are needed for correction. Vision is often very good when you are younger. This is because you are able to compensate using the flexible focus provided by the young natural lens. As the lens stiffens with age, first you find you need more help from reading glasses, then you find that distance vision is starting to become blurry too. Typically, you will be offered varifocal glasses. As you move through your 50s, you will find that your reliance on them increases.

Vision correction surgery

We now have a range of good solutions for hyperopia, including restoration of reading vision. Most people manage well until their mid-40s, but you may benefit from treatment earlier in life if you have a high prescription.

We will be able to give you clear advice about which procedure would suit you best after tests at your preliminary consultation.

Here are some of the options:

• Laser vision correction – a good solution for moderate hyperopia

• ICL implantation – a good solution for some younger people with high prescriptions

• RLE (lens exchange) – we commonly prefer this route in patients over 50, but laser vision correction or newer ICL options may suit you better

You can find detailed information for each of these treatments on this site under Procedures.

Preparing for your consultation

If you are a soft contact lens wearer, you should leave your contact lenses out for 3 days before your consultation. Rigid contact lenses should be left out for 2 weeks. Contact lens wear can temporarily change the surface shape of your cornea. We ask you to leave your contact lenses out to help ensure that scan information we will use to guide your treatment is as accurate as possible.

You will normally be with us for 1-2 hours to allow time for scanning, refraction testing, eye health screening and procedure advice. There is usually some waiting between stages of the consultation, so bring something to read or to listen to.

We often dilate your pupils to help examine the back of your eye. This can make driving more difficult for several hours afterwards. Parking is restricted in central London. So, we would recommend travelling to us using public transport or taxi.

The nearest tube station is OLD STREET (Northern Line).

Appointments and Enquiries

If you wish to arrange a preliminary consultation, please telephone Angelique Thomas on 020 7566 2156 or 07484 081815 (or from outside the UK +44 20 7566 2156 or +44 7484 081815) or email moorfields.ballan@nhs.net