Hyperopia and presbyopia are both vision conditions that prevent people from seeing close-up objects. If your vision becomes blurry when you keep a book close to your eyes or you get headaches when working on a computer, chances are that you might have presbyopia or hyperopia. But despite being similar in nature, the two have key differences and can be distinguished on the basis of their cause.
What is Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is usually experienced by people over the age of 40 as characterized in the name. The word derives from the Greek language and signifies “old eye.” Presbyopia occurs due to the lack of flexibility of the natural lens in your eye and as you age, the condition becomes worse and the lens more rigid.
Some of the symptoms of presbyopia include:
- Straining to read books, newspapers, or magazines and having to hold them farther away than you used to
- Difficulty performing hobbies, such as sewing or painting
- Blurred vision and trouble seeing objects that are closer
- Frequent headaches, eye strains, and migraines
- Feeling easily fatigued
Though presbyopia can worsen with age, it is also a common age-related vision condition, which means it can be treated with corrective eyeglasses or lenses in most cases. Optionally, you can visit your eye doctor in Dubai, who can recommend surgery for certain cases of presbyopia. These procedures sometimes make use of radio waves to create more curvature in the cornea and improve near sight as a whole.
What is Hyperopia?
Hyperopia is more commonly known as farsightedness. Much like presbyopia, this condition will make nearby objects appear blurry, but distant objects will seem clearer by comparison. Similar to nearsightedness or myopia, hyperopia is inherited and commonly occurs when the cornea is too flat or the eye is shorter than normal.
The symptoms of hyperopia include:
- Squinting to see objects that are near
- Difficulty performing daily tasks, such as reading or working on a computer
- Near objects appearing blurry and unrecognizable
- Headaches and eyestrains
Hyperopia can also be treated with corrective eyeglasses or lenses. An eye specialist in Dubai can help you correct your hyperopia with LASIK. This procedure would improve your vision by reshaping the cornea so that your eyes can focus more effectively on objects at any distance.
Presbyopia vs. Hyperopia: Understanding the Key Differences
While the two share several symptoms, there are some key differences, including:
- Cause: Hyperopia can be hereditary or caused due to a flat cornea. On the other hand, presbyopia occurs when the eye muscles become less elastic with old age.
- Age: Age is perhaps the most distinguishing factor. While presbyopia is a direct consequence of aging, hyperopia can occur among children and adults alike. You may develop farsightedness at a young age, but presbyopia only starts when you are 40 or older.
Treatment
Though presbyopia and hyperopia can both be treated using corrective eyeglasses, lenses or surgical procedures, there are a few differences. If you’re farsighted, an eye hospital in Dubai may recommend LASIK as a form of refractive surgery. On the other hand, a special LASIK procedure known as PresbyLASIK is now available specifically to treat presbyopia. PresbyLASIK treats presbyopia by reshaping the cornea to improve near and distant vision.
If you suspect you have presbyopia or hyperopia, consult one of our eye specialists at the Ebsaar Eye Surgery Center to receive proper care and treatment.