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When we think of vision problems, we tend to think of people who have trouble seeing objects far away. But what if the opposite is true? Hyperopia, or farsightedness, causes close-up objects to appear blurry while objects which are farther away look clear. If you have trouble focusing on words or objects in your near vision, you might have hyperopia. Hyperopia is a refractive error caused by a misshapen eye. Farsighted eyes don't look different from regular eyes at a casual glance, but they are actually slightly shorter than normal. This affects the way light is reflected. Specifically, light reflects behind the retinas rather than on them. Hyperopia usually manifests in childhood. School-age children with hyperopia tend to hold their books at arms' length. This condition can also come on as the result of advanced age, when it is known as age-related farsightedness, or presbyopia. There's a reason why older people tend to hold their newspapers far from their faces when they read; up close, the words are blurry. Both types of farsightedness worsen over time, as the sufferer's retinas naturally lose some of their flexibility. Anyone can be farsighted, but if your parents had the condition, they will probably pass it on to you. In fact, genetics is the best indicator of hyperopia. If you're at a high risk for developing hyperopia, or if you already recognize the signs in yourself, make an appointment with your eye doctor. They will be able to measure your near vision and keep records to indicate how fast your farsightedness is progressing. While farsightedness alone won't harm you, it can lead to more serious problems if left untreated. These include glaucoma and macular degeneration, which can eventually lead to blindness. Fortunately, hyperopia is a common condition that's highly treatable with glasses, contacts, or LASIK eye surgery. Schedule a consultation with your ophthalmologist to see which treatment option they recommend.

Money, money, money. Everything we do, everywhere we go, it costs money for almost everything involved. Factor in that the situation being discussed is health care and the dollar signs keep increasing in size. Vision problems can lend a hand to milking ones wallet what with annual eye exams, the cost of eyeglasses, and the monthly cost of contact lenses bleeding you dry over time. For some, this is just a nuisance to be dealt with as it comes. For others, it is a tiresome routine that would be easier to handle if dealt a fatal blow.

Average Cost and Financing

LASIK eye surgery was introduced to aid the world in attaining better vision without the continued use of eyeglasses, bifocals, and contacts. The main drawback to this particular advancement in the field of vision is the cost involved. As in most situations, this is one that you do not want to learn the hard lesson of "you get what you pay for." Cost should not be the determining factor when your LASIK eye surgeon is decided upon. However, this choice has gotten a little easier over the years as costs have eased somewhat. Today, the average cost of LASIK surgery can be anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500. Now remember, costs generally are quoted per eye as is the average mentioned previously. You may run across "specials" offering significantly lower rates, but be certain to ascertain all of the details on the offer as well as the doctor's credentials prior to be sucked in by the price; not everyone qualifies for the rates listed, nor are the doctor's someone you want working on your vision. To ease the financial burden inflicted with this surgical procedure, many patients are now being offered payment plan or financing options. Whether it be through the eye surgeons office directly or through a medical loan company, new avenues for affording this life changing procedure are being welcomed by potential patients at large as well as the doctor's that service them. If the patient is unable to afford the lump sum up front for the LASIK procedure, how will the doctor benefit from declining to allow such plans to be used?

Custom LASIK eye surgery is a more refined method of the LASIK eye surgery treatment. Get the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about custom LASIK, and whether it is a good choice for you.

What is custom LASIK eye surgery?

There are some vision problems that cannot be corrected with the standard LASIK treatment. In these cases, custom LASIK can sometimes still be used successfully. Custom LASIK uses a more in-depth digital method to correct flaws in vision.

What is the difference between standard LASIK and custom LASIK?

Standard LASIK eye surgery only has the ability to repair what are called lower order aberrations to vision. These aberrations include astigmatism, nearsightedness (myopia), and farsightedness (hyperopia). Custom LASIK eye surgery is more refined, and can repair both lower and higher order aberrations, which helps enable you to see better.

Is custom LASIK more effective?

For the most part, yes. Not only does custom LASIK have the ability to repair both lower and higher order aberrations, which improve vision better, but custom LASIK has proven to be more accurate as well. Additionally, custom LASIK is proving to be a much safer method of laser vision repair.

Can anyone get custom LASIK?

There are some cases where a person will not make a good candidate for a custom LASIK procedure. If there are any scars on the cornea or if the pupil is not able to dilate large enough, then a person may not be able to receive the custom procedure. In these cases however, the candidate will usually still be able to get standard LASIK.

How much does custom LASIK cost?

Given that custom LASIK is a much more refined method of laser surgery than standard LASIK, and that it uses more advanced technology, it is no surprise that the procedure costs more. Prices will of course vary from location to location, but on average custom LASIK ranges between $3,000 to $5,000.

Will my insurance pay for a custom LASIK procedure?

That will depend on your insurance company. Some health insurance companies will not pay for corrective procedures such as these. Others may be willing to pay some or all of the costs. If your insurance will not pay for it, you will more than likely still be able to find some sort of financing program that will enable you to pay the costs.

Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, is a common refractive disorder of the eye. People who suffer from farsightedness find that they can focus clearly on objects in the distance, but have trouble seeing objects in their near vision field. Hyperopia is mostly harmless, but some forms of farsightedness are progressive and can lead to more serious conditions.

What causes Hyperopia?

Most cases of hyperopia are evident in the younger years, though there is an age-related variety known as presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness. All sufferers of hyperopia have difficulty making out details up close. This symptom can manifest as a tendency to hold books and papers at arms' length to read them. All cases of hyperopia tend to worsen with age due to the progressive rigidity of the lens of the eye. Farsightedness is thought to be an inherited condition. That is, if you have a direct relative who is farsighted, chances are good that you will be, too. Farsighted people have eyes that are shorter than usual. This irregularity in the shape of the eye interferes with the way light is refracted. Hyperopia causes incoming light to focus behind the retina rather than directly on it.

How can Hyperopia be treated?

Eye exams are the best way to detect and diagnose farsightedness. But regular examinations aren't thorough enough to detect the disorder. Tell your doctor about your concerns and request a refractive assessment. This will measure your degree of hyperopia and tell the doctor how best to progress with treatment. Fortunately, hyperopia is a highly treatable condition. It can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or LASIK surgery. If you think you might be farsighted, make an appointment with a San Diego LASIK surgeon. They will give you a thorough examination, including a refraction assessment to determine your degree of farsightedness.

There are many benefits for those who choose to undergo LASIK eye surgery to correct their vision. After a lifetime of the inconvenience and discomfort that come with glasses and contact lenses, the idea of a permanent solution to correct their vision is now possible.

Why Choose LASIK?

LASIK eye surgery's benefits begin with the almost immediate results that LASIK eye surgery promises. In a relatively short space of time a patient can undergo surgery, recover, and go about their lives with the many benefits of having LASIK eye surgery. LASIK eye surgery provides, for some for the first time in their lives, the freedom of a lifetime full of glasses and contact lenses. For the first time in their lives they can go about their lives with confidence that they didn't know was possible. LASIK eye surgery is especially desirable for athletes. For many athletes the benefits of LASIK eye surgery go beyond mere comfort. An athlete who undergoes the LASIK procedure can increase their performance many fold. To not have to worry about how to keep their glasses up or keep their contact lenses in their eyes. Without these worries, they are free to perform, and at a higher level of competition. The benefits of LASIK are not just for the athlete. All those who have the procedure are free to participate in many activities that they were not able to do in the past. All of these benefits of LASIK eye surgery are important. But, for many the most important benefit of LASIK surgery is self-esteem. Many people are self-conscious about having to wear glasses, and the boost in self esteem and self confidence is invaluable.

LASIK Cost-Cutting Benefits

With all these benefits of LASIK eye surgery one of the most important is cost. While LASIK surgery may seem expensive, for most people it is a one-time cost. Compared to a lifetime of doctor's visits and supplies for contact lenses, as well as the cost of new glasses every year, the cost of LASIK eye surgery becomes relatively inexpensive if figured over the span of a lifetime.

As with any surgical procedure, the most important step in your LASIK surgery preparation is choosing the right physician. LASIK eye corrective surgery is one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures available, but it's only as good as the physician performing the process. With thousands of clinics and varying degrees of expertise and experience, it is important that you do your research and ask the right questions.

Your LASIK Consultation

Once you have made an educated doctor selection, it's time to discuss the benefits and risks of LASIK surgery. Your physician will first execute a painless and comprehensive eye exam to determine whether or not you are a good candidate, and what specific eye disorders you suffer from. In rare cases, certain eye conditions may exclude a person from being able to undergo the LASIK procedure. If you pass the examination and are determined to be a good candidate for LASIK, you will be provided with a treatment plan. This will include details about how the procedure works, what to expect during the surgery and the costs involved. It is important that you use this time with your doctor to ask and voice all of your questions and concerns. If you decide to move ahead, you will also be informed of the pre- and post-surgical requirements and specific preparations unique to your LASIK process.

Weeks Prior to Surgery

When preparing for LASIK surgery, contact lens wearers will be asked to go without their lenses for approximately two to four weeks prior to the procedure. The duration is dependant upon your condition and what type of contact lenses you wear. Following these instructions is important because the success of LASIK is determined by accurately measuring the shape and curvature of your cornea. Consistent usage of contact lenses can alter this reading. However, this is not the case with glasses.

Day Before Surgery

The day before your surgery, make sure to organize your ride to and from the hospital, as it's imperative you not intend to do this yourself. You will also be required to thoroughly clean or wash your eyes and face to prevent any chance of infection. Make sure there is no residual lotion, perfume or makeup remaining on your skin that might accidentally find its way into the eye.

Day of Your Surgery

On the actual day of your LASIK treatment, you should eat a light meal prior to leaving for your doctor's office. This is purely for comfort, as it might be a few hours before you will have the opportunity to eat again. You will also need to make sure that your face is clean and easily accessible. This means removing any objects, including your hair, from the reach of your eyes and face. Preparing for LASIK corrective eye surgery does not require a lot of effort, and the expected benefits are exciting and substantial. If you have any further questions regarding the preparation process, you should always feel free ask your LASIK surgeon.

So you made the decision to have LASIK laser vision correction. You found an experienced doctor who performed the procedure on one or both of your eyes. Now what?

Post-LASIK Recovery - What Not to Do

The primary goal for our post-operative LASIK eye surgery patients is to protect their eyes from bright lights, water, and irritants. Doctors often advise patients to go home and sleep after the surgery. This gives the eyes a chance to heal, and minimizes discomfort as well; the patient sleeps through the most painful phase of recovery after the anesthetic eye drops wear off. Patients might be given antibiotic or lubricating eye drops to use. It's advisable to avoid watching television, reading, or staring at a computer monitor for 24 hours after laser vision correction. If the eyes are strained, they won't heal as quickly. Also, patients should protect their eyes from bright lights. Sunglasses should be worn whenever the patient goes outside during the day. Protective eye shields should be worn at night for up to seven days following the LASIK procedure. Patients are also advised to take baths rather than showers for a few days, and to avoid getting water in their eyes. Dust and smoke should also be avoided for several days.

Follow-up Appointments

The ophthalmologist will schedule routine check-ups to measure the patient's recovery and ensure that no complications are arising. It's very important to attend these check-ups. The doctor will also address any questions or concerns the patient has regarding the post-operative phase. Blurry vision and persistently dry eyes are two common after-effects of LASIK. Other changes in vision should be brought to the doctor's attention. Best of all, patients can expect better eyesight after LASIK. Most experience a notable improvement within a day. Patients typically have trouble seeing objects up close or far away, but this is temporary. Within one to three months, the patient's vision will stabilize and they will see the world with greater clarity. View our LASIK FAQs page to learn more.

To determine if you are a candidate for LASIK, your eye doctor will review your medical history and perform a thorough eye exam. Though most adults with stable vision are good LASIK candidates, certain medical conditions, physical characteristics, and other factors may mean that LASIK is not right for you. In order to be accurately evaluated, it is important for contact lens wearers to remove their lenses well in advance of the consultation. Women who are pregnant or lactating must wait before scheduling a consultation. At the end of your consultation at our San Diego LASIK center, you will be able to drive home safely.

Entrance Tests

Entrance tests are basic tests designed to determine the fundamental health and functionality of a patient's eyes. First the doctor will perform an external examination, looking for signs of damage, disease, and other problems on the outside of the eye. Tests for visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, color perception, and other basic parameters will also be performed at this point.

Testing for Refractive Errors

Refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are the root causes of vision problems requiring laser vision correction. Your eye doctor will use keratometry and other refractive tests to identify refractive errors that need to be corrected through surgery.

Testing for Diseases

Individuals suffering from eye diseases are typically not good candidates for LASIK eye surgery. Your eye doctor will perform slit lamp, dilated fundus, and intraocular pressure testing to determine whether you may be affected by an eye disease that makes laser eye surgery impossible and may require other treatment instead.