Laser eye surgery for long-sightedness: who it suits, and when lens replacement is better

Long-sightedness (hyperopia) means the eye focuses light behind the retina. Young people can often compensate by focusing harder, so it may only cause tired eyes or headaches until the 40s, when near and then distance vision blur. Read more about long sight.

Can laser correct it?

Yes, for suitable prescriptions. Laser steepens the central cornea to bring focus forward. Results are most predictable for low to moderate long sight; higher prescriptions are more prone to regression — partial drift back towards the original prescription — and to night-vision side effects.

Age matters

From the mid-40s, presbyopia makes reading vision harder regardless of laser. Options include monovision (one eye set slightly for near) or lens replacement, which replaces the natural lens and can address distance and near together. For higher prescriptions, lens replacement is often more predictable — see lens replacement for high long sight.

Suitability checks

Stable prescription for at least a year, healthy corneas of adequate thickness, normal eye pressure and a full check of the drainage angle — long-sighted eyes are more likely to have narrow angles, which must be assessed before any treatment. See who is not suitable for laser eye surgery.

Which laser?

LASIK and surface treatments (LASEK and PRK) can both treat long sight. The choice depends on corneal thickness and lifestyle — compare PRK vs LASIK.

Seeing Ms Tahmina Pearsall

Ms Pearsall offers both laser eye surgery and lens replacement, so she can recommend whichever genuinely suits your prescription and age. See laser eye surgery and laser eye surgery at Harley Street.

Ms Tahmina Pearsall is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon who qualified in 1993 and has more than 30 years of experience and over 50,000 procedures performed. She trained at Moorfields Eye Hospital, St Thomas' Hospital and Addenbrooke's Hospital, and sees private patients at multiple clinic locations, including Harley Street in London. Read her full credentials.

Ms Pearsall sees patients at Harley Street, London and other clinic locations. Patients travel from across the UK, including Brighton & Hove and Liverpool, and from Jersey and Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

The first telephone enquiry is free — arrange a free initial call to explain what happened and check whether a review is likely to help. A full clinical consultation with Ms Pearsall costs £250. Treatment prices are listed on the pricing page and confirmed in writing after examination.

This article is general information written for patients and does not replace an individual examination.