Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a type of vision impairment where light rays, passing through the cornea and lens, focus not on the retina but on a plane behind it. As a result, visual acuity decreases: objects that are close to the eyes appear blurry to the person. Treatment of hyperopia in Israel, at one of the best clinics in the country – Top Ihilov, allows for a quick, painless, and long-term resolution of the condition. This has already been confirmed by tens of thousands of people from around the world who have undergone effective vision correction at the Israeli medical center.
Hyperopia can be caused by anatomical features of the eye, particularly an abnormally short eye axis, or weakness of its optical system. It often occurs in people over 40 years old and is associated with weakening of the lens muscles due to age-related changes in the eye.
Hyperopia can also develop against the background of diabetes, oncological diseases, retinal blood vessel damage, and other pathologies. With mild hyperopia, the eye usually copes on its own – through the accommodation mechanism, adjusting focus when viewing near and distant objects. Therefore, a person still sees well but may experience slight discomfort, rapid eye fatigue, and headaches.
With mild and severe hyperopia, vision noticeably deteriorates: the eye exhausts its ability to adapt, and a person sees not only near objects but also distant ones as blurry. Left untreated, this condition can lead to serious complications, such as the outflow of intraocular fluid, which in turn can lead to increased intraocular pressure and the development of glaucoma. Treatment of hyperopia in Israel, with reviews serving as clear evidence of its effectiveness, can address hyperopia of any degree thanks to high-class specialists, advanced vision correction techniques, state-of-the-art medical equipment, and an individual approach.
Treatment Methods for Hyperopia in Israel
At Top Ihilov clinic, the most progressive vision correction techniques are used.
Optical correction. This is the most common, simple, and accessible way to combat hyperopia. It involves wearing properly prescribed glasses or contact lenses. Glasses use so-called converging lenses, which, by changing the angle of refraction of light rays, shift the optical focus directly onto the retina. Contact lenses work on the same principle, but unlike glasses, they do not limit peripheral vision and do not disrupt spatial perception of objects. However, they also have their drawbacks: they can interfere with corneal nutrition, hinder tear production, and increase the risk of infections. Wearing glasses and contact lenses, while not eliminating hyperopia, helps to see well and prevents the risk of developing strabismus, amblyopia, and other complications.
Laser stimulation. Like the previous method, this one is classified as a conservative vision correction technique. It involves using a low-energy laser to stimulate blood supply to the eye, leading to improved function of the visual analyzer and accommodation. It is used in patients with mild hyperopia and for the prevention of the condition.
Laser correction. This is a gentle microsurgical method and one of the most effective and safe ways to eliminate refractive anomalies of the eye. It is completely painless, performed on an outpatient basis within 10–20 minutes, and rehabilitation lasts from 1 to 10 days. At the Israeli clinic Top Ihilov, several types of laser correction for hyperopia are used:
- LASIK. The surgeon, using an automatic steel knife – microkeratome, makes a super-precise cut on the surface of the cornea, forming a kind of flap. By lifting it, he gains access to the inner layers of the outer eye shell, after which, using a computer-controlled laser beam, he changes the profile of the cornea, correcting its curvature and thereby changing the angle of refraction of light rays. In conclusion, the doctor returns the lifted corneal flap to its place, where it quickly fuses with other layers of the corneal shell thanks to natural collagen.
- Presby LASIK. This technique is used to treat age-related hyperopia. It is performed in exactly the same way as LASIK, but on both eyes simultaneously, and the cornea is shaped similarly to a multifocal lens, allowing the patient who has undergone laser correction to see equally well both near and far.
- LASEK. The procedure is almost identical to the previous techniques – the only, but key difference is that the detached flap is created only from the epithelial layer of the cornea, excluding damage to the stroma. Due to this feature, LASEK is successfully used in people with excessively thin corneas. After the surgeon uses the laser to give the corneal shell the desired configuration, he returns the flap to its place and applies a special therapeutic lens that must be worn for several days.
- Photorefractive Excimer Laser Keratectomy. Here, a high-precision laser acts on the very top – epithelial layer of the cornea, changing its shape and thereby returning the optical focus to its place. Within a few days after the procedure, the epithelial tissue naturally restores itself. Sometimes this process may be accompanied by slight discomfort.
Treatment methods for hyperopia in Israel also include implantation of phakic lenses. At Top Ihilov medical center, this is resorted to in cases of high degrees of hyperopia in the patient or when there are contraindications to laser correction. During the procedure, a phakic lens, which has high biocompatibility, is implanted directly into the eyeball, restoring the person's ability to see well at any distance.
Diagnosis of Hyperopia in Israel
Before starting treatment, the patient must undergo a thorough examination to determine the cause of the anomaly, its degree, and the presence of other possible vision impairments. The diagnostic process here is perfected and usually takes no more than two working days. It consists of three stages.
Stage 1: Initial examination
A qualified ophthalmologist at Top Ihilov conducts a consultation and examination of the patient, using special tests to check their vision and recording the medical history. Then, he compiles a list of diagnostic procedures necessary to assess the parameters and condition of the cornea, optic nerve, retina, and small blood vessels.
Stage 2: Comprehensive examination
This is the key stage of diagnosis, during which the patient with hyperopia undergoes all the studies prescribed by the doctor. Among them:
- Autorefractometry
- Skiascopy
- Aberrometry
- Biometry
- Kerato-topography
- Optical coherence tomography
- Biomicroscopy
- Ultrasound of the eyeball with Doppler imaging of blood vessels
- And examination of the fundus
- Laboratory blood tests.
Stage 3: Selection of the optimal method for vision correction
Diagnosis of hyperopia in Israel takes about three hours, after which a council of leading specialists in the ophthalmology department gathers to review the examination results and develop an effective treatment plan. The patient has the opportunity to hear professional opinions from several experts, and therefore can be confident that the approved therapy method is the most optimal for them.
Treatment of Hyperopia in Israel: Prices
Treatment of hyperopia in Israel, the cost of which impresses with its affordability, is on average 30–50% cheaper than in clinics of similar level in Germany, Austria, the USA, and Canada. The approximate cost of hyperopia correction at Top Ihilov can be learned even before arrival – by contacting the clinic's International Department, whose specialists will discuss possible treatment options with you and orient you on timelines and rates, providing a preliminary estimate. The actual price will be known on-site – after undergoing the examination and selecting the treatment method.
Five Reasons to Undergo Hyperopia Treatment in Israel
- Latest laser vision correction technologies.
- Top-category specialists with successful experience in treating hyperopia of various degrees.
- Advanced medical-diagnostic equipment.
- High-precision diagnostics in the shortest possible time.
- Comprehensive assistance to foreign patients in organizing trips to Israel and optimizing the treatment process.