The most common reason for vision issues for people from 18-30, who need glasses for reading (and who may wear glasses full time) is:
- Hyperopia, also known as long-sight / longsighted
- You may also have astigmatism, either alone or combined with long-sight
How does hyperopia/long-sightedness develop?
According to the National Eye Institute, hyperopia develops in eyes that focus images behind the retina instead of on the retina, which as a result can cause blurred vision. This may occur when either the eyeball is too short, or because of an abnormal shape of the cornea or lens.
Treating long-sightedness for people in their 20s is possible and can make a big difference to patients. The main consideration is that hyperopia (long-sight) progresses with age and so the results will decrease with age. For such patients, we do not need to wait for the prescription to be stable, as we know it will continue to increase.
the purpose of treatment is to reduce any long-sightedness as much as possible, so that the eye isn’t constantly working hard to focus and overcome the hyperopia
The purpose of treatment is to reduce any long-sight as much as possible, so that the eye isn’t constantly working hard to focus and overcome the hyperopia. Patients in their 20s can usually become glasses free for a number of years, but will return to need glasses for reading, commonly in their late 30s or 40s.
LASIK correction is the treatment of choice for long-sight
LASIK correction is the preferred treatment for long-sight, with or without astigmatism. You can learn more about LASIK surgery here.
If you’re considering laser eye surgery, download our information pack to find out more.
