Can LASIK Fix Farsightedness?
When people hear "LASIK," they usually think of fixing short-sightedness (trouble seeing far away). But what about the opposite problem—farsightedness?
At Elite LASIK & Cataract, we treat a wide range of prescriptions, including farsightedness. If you’re tired of blurry near vision or switching between glasses and readers, LASIK might be a great option for you.
Let’s explore how it works—and whether it’s the right fix for you.
What is farsightedness?
Farsightedness (also called hyperopia) means you can see things in the distance more clearly than things up close.
It happens when your eye is too short or your cornea is too flat. This causes light to focus behind the retina instead of on it.
Symptoms include:
- Blurry near vision
- Eye strain or headaches when reading
- Needing to hold things far away to see clearly
Can LASIK fix hyperopia?
Yes—LASIK can be used to reshape the cornea to correct hyperopia.
The laser steepens the central part of the cornea so that light can properly focus on the retina. This improves your near and intermediate vision.
However, not every case of farsightedness is suitable for LASIK.
Who is a good candidate?
You may be a good candidate if:
- Your prescription is +0.50 to +4.00 diopters
- Your vision is stable
- Your eyes are healthy (no cataracts or eye disease)
- You’re under 45 and want to avoid reading glasses
We’ll do detailed scans of your cornea and full eye health checks to make sure LASIK is the safest and most effective option for you.
Are there limits?
LASIK works best for low to moderate hyperopia. Very high prescriptions may not respond well—or may regress over time.
Also, LASIK doesn’t stop natural ageing. That means even if you get LASIK, you may still need reading glasses eventually due to presbyopia (age-related loss of near vision).
What are the alternatives?
If LASIK isn’t the right fit, you might benefit from:
- PRK – similar to LASIK but for thinner corneas
- Lens replacement – great for over-50s or people with early cataracts
LASIK can absolutely fix farsightedness—for the right person.
Our advanced testing will tell us whether it’s the best option for you, and we’ll walk you through any alternatives if needed.
Want to find out if LASIK can correct your farsightedness?
Find out if you are suitable for vision correction
Not everyone is eligible for vision correction surgery.
Find out if you could benefit from this life changing surgery by taking the quick self-suitability quiz below:
