What type of lenses are typically used to correct hyperopia?

Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, is a common refractive error where distant objects may be seen clearly, but close objects appear blurry. This occurs when the eye is too short or the cornea has insufficient curvature, causing light to focus behind the retina.

To correct hyperopia, positive lenses, also referred to as converging lenses, are utilized. These lenses help to bend the light rays toward the retina, enabling the eye to focus images properly. They assist in bringing closer objects into clearer focus by adding power to the lens system, compensating for the eye's inability to do so on its own.

Positive lenses are characterized by their convex shape, causing them to converge light rays before they enter the eye. This augmentation of the eye's refractive power allows hyperopic individuals to see nearby objects more clearly.

While bifocals and single vision lenses can be used in cases where additional correction is needed, they do not specifically address hyperopia alone without the context of the patient's overall visual needs. Negative lenses, on the other hand, are suitable for myopia (nearsightedness), making them incompatible for hyperopia correction.