Advantages and disadvantages of treatments for farsightedness

**Treatments for farsightedness**
Type of correction	Advantages	Disadvantages
Eyeglasses	The simplest, safest way to correct farsightedness Most people can wear glasses. Accurate and predictable vision correction to within 0.50 diopters of the desired result Less expensive than contact lenses or surgery; easier to take care of than contact lenses Unlikely to cause side effects because they never touch the eyeball itself Available everywhere and can be changed easily as your vision changes	Unacceptable in some types of work (such as firefighting) or in active sports (although some athletes wear prescription goggles during sporting events) You may feel they are inconvenient, uncomfortable, annoying (they tend to fog up in humid or cold environments, for example), or unattractive. Can be broken or lost
Contact lenses	Predictable vision correction Eliminate the need to wear eyeglasses all the time Provide better peripheral (side) vision than eyeglasses A wide range of lens types is available to meet individual needs. Cost more than eyeglasses but less than surgery (though surgery may be less expensive in the long run if it allows you to go without glasses or contacts) You may prefer the way you look wearing contacts rather than eyeglasses.	Cleaning and disinfecting your contact lenses can be complicated and inconvenient; you need good hand-eye coordination to clean, insert, and remove the lenses. Increased risk of corneal infections, scratches, and scrapes Can be easily damaged or lost Some people cannot wear contact lenses comfortably. Can cost at least $150 per year, including the costs of cleaning and disinfecting solutions; people who have to replace their lenses or change prescriptions regularly may spend much more
Surgery	You may no longer need to wear corrective lenses (glasses or contacts) after surgery. You will not have to bother with the daily cleaning and care of contact lenses. May turn out to be less expensive than glasses or contact lenses over the long term, if you don't need corrective lenses after surgery	Some people still need corrective lenses after surgery. Long-term risks are still unknown. Risk of complications (though complications that threaten vision are rare) Skilled surgeons may not be available in all areas. Surgery and follow-up care are expensive.

Credits

Author	Jeannette Curtis
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, FRCSC - Ophthalmology
Last Updated	November 23, 2007