Contact lenses are widely available and highly effective for correcting farsightedness. Farsightedness describes vision problems that make close-up objects appear blurry. The two primary conditions are hyperopia, a structural issue of the eye, and presbyopia, a common age-related loss of focusing ability. Modern lens technology offers distinct solutions for each condition, allowing millions of people to achieve clear vision without relying on glasses. The choice of lens depends entirely on the specific cause of the farsightedness and the individual’s visual needs.
Understanding Hyperopia and Presbyopia
Hyperopia is a refractive error often present from a young age. It occurs because the eyeball is slightly too short, or the cornea is too flat, causing light rays to focus behind the retina instead of directly on its surface. The eye’s natural focusing lens can often compensate for mild hyperopia, but this effort can lead to eye strain and headaches during near vision tasks.
Presbyopia is an age-related condition that typically begins around age 40. This condition is a gradual loss of flexibility in the eye’s natural lens, not a structural problem with the eye’s shape. As the lens stiffens, it can no longer change shape easily to focus light from close objects onto the retina. This makes tasks like reading small print increasingly difficult.
Contact Lens Options for Simple Farsightedness
When the eye only requires correction for hyperopia, standard spherical contact lenses are the solution. These lenses are designed to add focusing power, helping to shift the focal point forward onto the retina. The prescription for hyperopia is always a positive (+) power, indicating the converging lens power required for correction.
These standard lenses are known as single-vision or spherical lenses because the corrective power is uniform across the entire optical zone. They effectively correct the refractive error, allowing the wearer to see clearly at all distances, assuming the eye’s natural lens is still flexible enough for near-focus work. Materials include soft contact lenses, which are comfortable and allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea, and rigid gas permeable (GP) lenses, which offer excellent optical clarity and durability. Soft lenses are available in daily disposable, bi-weekly, or monthly replacement schedules.
Multifocal and Monovision Solutions
For presbyopia, where both distance and near vision correction are needed simultaneously, the solutions involve either multifocal lenses or monovision. Multifocal contact lenses are the most advanced option, designed with multiple focusing powers integrated into the lens itself, similar to progressive eyeglasses. These lenses use different designs, such as concentric circles or aspheric profiles, to allow the eye to access both distance and near vision simultaneously.
Center-near designs have the reading power in the middle of the lens, while center-distance designs place the distance power centrally. The power gradually transitions outward. The brain learns to select the correct image, but this simultaneous vision approach can result in trade-offs, such as a slight decrease in contrast sensitivity or minor glare. Modern multifocal designs are engineered to provide clear vision across all distances while maintaining binocular vision.
Monovision is a different correction strategy that uses two single-vision lenses, dedicating each eye to a specific task. The dominant eye is corrected for distance vision, while the non-dominant eye is corrected for near vision. This creates a functional compromise where the brain learns to favor the clear image from the appropriate eye depending on the viewing distance. While monovision can be very successful, it can affect depth perception because the eyes are not fully corrected for both distances binocularly.
What to Expect When Getting Farsighted Contact Lenses
The process of obtaining farsighted contact lenses begins with a comprehensive eye examination and a specialized contact lens fitting. An eye care professional must assess the overall health of the eye and conduct tests like corneal topography to measure the curvature of the cornea. This measurement is essential for determining the correct lens base curve and diameter.
During the fitting, the doctor will discuss your lifestyle and visual demands to help select the most suitable lens type. This could be a standard spherical lens, a multifocal, or a monovision system. You will typically be provided with trial lenses to wear and evaluate the fit, comfort, and vision clarity before a final prescription is issued. Adaptation is a significant factor, particularly with multifocal and monovision systems, which may require a trial period as your brain adjusts to the new visual input. Follow-up appointments are necessary to ensure the lenses are fitting correctly, that the eye remains healthy, and that the vision provided meets your daily needs.