Farsightedness

Do you always squint when you talk to people and do you often get headaches after reading for a long time?

Then, like many people, you are probably suffering from farsightedness. This can be permanently corrected with laser surgery.

Read the following article to find out what farsightedness actually is and what methods can be used to cure it.

What is farsightedness?

Farsightedness is also known as hyperopia or hypermetropia. The term describes a visual impairment in which close objects appear blurry, but the affected person can see well in the distance. Farsightedness is the opposite of nearsightedness.

How do you see if you are farsighted?

What is the difference between farsightedness and nearsightedness?

The two terms nearsightedness and farsightedness are often confused. One thing that both visual impairments have in common is that patients can no longer see well without visual aids. With farsightedness, you can see things well in the distance, but the closer the objects are in front of you, the more blurred they appear. Nearsighted people see distant objects blurred, but can see well up close.

How can I distinguish between farsightedness and presbyopia?

The ageing process of the lens of the eye begins at around the age of 45. This means that the eye can no longer focus sufficiently at close range. The area in which you can still see clearly shifts further and further into the distance as you get older. By around the age of 65, you can hardly see anything from a distance of less than two meters without glasses. The main difference between congenital farsightedness and presbyopia is age. Congenital farsightedness can occur from birth, while presbyopia only occurs with increasing age.

How does farsightedness occur?

Farsightedness can have different causes:

• An eyeball that is too short
• Cornea with too little refractive power
• Eye lens with too little refractive power

When a nearsighted patient looks into the distance, the two parallel rays of light are bundled in such a way that a sharp image is created not in, but behind the retina. To correct this misbehavior

Can farsightedness go away on its own?

Farsightedness is congenital. In some cases, the visual impairment can be regulated by the growth of the eyeball and the farsightedness can at least improve. However, with increasing age, the elasticity of the lens decreases and with it its ability to adjust. Even if congenital farsightedness improves with increasing age, it usually decreases again due to presbyopia. A permanent way to correct congenital visual impairment is to use laser treatment for the farsightedness.

How is farsightedness indicated?

Short-sightedness (and long-sightedness) is measured in diopters. This is based on the normal value for the refractive power of the eye, which is between 60 and 65 dpt. If the value deviates upwards from this, long-sightedness exists, which is indicated with a + sign in front of the number. Short-sightedness is indicated with a – sign in front of the dpt number.

How is farsightedness diagnosed?

Poor vision can be diagnosed by a simple test at the ophthalmologist. Using a vision test, the doctor or optician determines how well the eyes can see far and close. In this test, patients must recognize letters and symbols of different sizes with one eye.

Note: Farsightedness can be easily overlooked, especially in young people. The results of eye tests can vary depending on the time of day, lighting conditions and constitution. In addition, young people still have a very elastic lens that focuses automatically through accommodation. This means that farsightedness can be overlooked, especially in young people.

Is farsightedness curable?

If a patient is diagnosed with farsightedness, there are three options available to correct this visual impairment.

Contact lenses for farsightedness

To correct farsightedness, you need spherical contact lenses.

Prescription glasses

Wearing glasses is another way to correct your vision. The lenses must then be adjusted to your individual vision by an optician.

Laser treatment of farsightedness

With the help of modern laser procedures, long-sightedness can be permanently corrected. Some health insurance companies even cover the costs of laser eye surgery.

Laser treatment of farsightedness: These methods are available

If you no longer want to be permanently dependent on visual aids, you can simply have your farsightedness treated with a laser. With the help of the laser, you can regain up to 100% of your vision. There are now state-of-the-art laser techniques that can be used to correct your farsightedness.

What requirements must be met for laser eye surgery?

With the help of the latest laser technology, many people with long-sightedness can already be helped permanently. Nevertheless, a few requirements must be met in order for you to have your long-sightedness lasered.

• Minimum age of 18 years
• Stable eyesight
• No acute eye diseases
• Corneal thickness of half a millimeter
• Good health

You can take a test here to see whether you are suitable for the laser procedure.

What is the Lasik laser procedure?

Lasik laser surgery is now the standard procedure if you want to have your farsightedness lasered. An excimer laser is used to correct vision defects with pinpoint accuracy. In the first step of the operation, a piece of the corneal lamella is severed with a blade. This creates a so-called flap, a corneal cover, which is folded back and clears the way for the laser. The laser corrects the vision defect; the flap is then folded back again. It adheres without stitches.

Note: The creation of the flap is already very safe thanks to state-of-the-art precision knives. However, incorrect cuts and complications can still occur. Therefore, the methods of LASIK lasering have been continuously refined so that the risks can be significantly minimized.

Lasering farsightedness with the iLasik procedure

The femto technique (iLASIK) is a further development of the classic LASIK procedure. This method also creates a flap, but not with a knife, but with a femtosecond laser. This laser technology can correct farsightedness up to +4dpt. Healing problems caused by incisions can be virtually eliminated with the iLASIK procedure.

Lasering farsightedness with PRK LASEK

Farsighted people with a very thin cornea cannot have their eyes lasered using the classic LASIK procedure. The cornea must be a certain thickness for this to happen. However, these patients can also be helped with the PRK LASEK procedure. Instead of creating a flap, the top layer of the cornea is detached and pushed to the side. This clears the way for the laser, which then corrects the vision defect. Finally, the corneal layer is pushed back again.

What are the risks of lasering for farsightedness?

The risks of lasering for farsightedness are method-specific. Common side effects include dry eyes, increased sensitivity to light and a short-term impairment of vision at dusk. After the procedure, you will be given eye drops to reduce these risks. In very rare cases, over- or under-correction may occur, but this can be corrected in a second operation in the weeks following the procedure.

Can laser treatment make me blind?

Many patients wonder whether laser eye surgery can cause blindness. We can reassure you: This is not possible. The laser beam can only penetrate deep enough into the eye to change the surface of the cornea. A maximum of one third of the cornea is removed. The lasers alone are not technically capable of penetrating deeper into the eye and causing blindness. The eye-tracking system offers additional safety by stopping the laser immediately if the eye moves.

How much does it cost to have long-sightedness lasered?

The cost of laser surgery in Germany can amount to several thousand euros. Clinics often calculate the costs based on the severity of the visual impairment. This means that the more severe the farsightedness, the more expensive the procedure will be.

Do health insurance companies cover the costs of laser surgery?

Most statutory health insurance companies refuse to cover the costs of laser treatment for farsightedness. In 2017, the Federal Court of Justice ruled on private health insurance companies that it would be easier for those with private insurance to get at least part of the costs of laser surgery reimbursed. It is therefore worth finding out about possible cost coverage.

Laser Eye Surgery in Turkey: Save up to 2/3 of the costs

When it comes to the prices for laser eye surgery, it is worth comparing prices online. You will notice that eye clinics in Turkey only charge a fraction of the costs as clinics in Germany. However, patients do not have to compromise on the safety and quality of the operations. The doctors in Turkey are just as specialized and work with the latest technology. However, the low cost of living means that you can save on general costs for personnel, organization, etc.

How can I get my farsightedness lasered in Turkey?

Health Travels organizes health trips to Istanbul. You book an all-inclusive package including pre- and post-examinations and hotel accommodation and pay fixed prices regardless of your diopter number.

Are you interested in further information on the subject of laser farsightedness? Then please contact Health Travels.