Short answer
Yes — LASIK can fix hyperopia (long-sightedness) in suitable candidates. Most platforms correct up to approximately +5 dioptres (D) by steepening the cornea. Outcomes are excellent in the +1 to +4 D range. Above +5 D, or with thin corneas, ICL is usually preferred — correcting up to +10 D. SMILE Pro cannot treat hyperopia.
How much hyperopia can LASIK correct?
Most modern LASIK platforms treat hyperopia up to roughly +5 D, often with astigmatism in the same session — when pre-operative scans confirm adequate corneal thickness for safe steepening.
Hyperopic LASIK is technically more demanding than myopic LASIK — the cornea is steepened rather than flattened, and higher plus prescriptions require more precise planning. A +4 D prescription on a healthy cornea is routinely corrected; the same number on a thin or irregular cornea may be declined for laser even though it is within platform range.
| Level | Typical Sph | LASIK possible? | Alternative if not |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild | +0.5 to +2.0 D | Usually yes — excellent range | ICL |
| Moderate | +2.0 to +4.0 D | Usually yes | ICL |
| Upper LASIK range | +4.0 to +5.0 D | Often yes — careful assessment | ICL if borderline |
| High | Above +5.0 D | Usually no for laser | ICL up to +10 D |
When is ICL better than LASIK for hyperopia?
ICL is often preferred when prescription exceeds roughly +5 D, corneas are thin, or you want a reversible implant rather than permanent corneal reshaping.
- 1Prescription above +5 D — laser may not achieve full correction safely; ICL covers up to +10 D.
- 2Thin corneas — insufficient tissue for safe hyperopic ablation.
- 3High astigmatism combined — toric ICL treats sphere and cylinder together.
- 4Reversibility — the EVO ICL can be removed or exchanged; LASIK reshaping is permanent.
Read: Can ICL fix hyperopia? · LASIK vs ICL · Return to the hyperopia guide.
Can SMILE Pro fix hyperopia instead?
No. SMILE Pro is approved for myopia only — not positive (+) prescriptions. For hyperopia, LASIK or ICL are the correct pathways. Read Can SMILE Pro treat hyperopia?
Hyperopia and presbyopia after 45
LASIK at 50 with +3.00 D hyperopia corrects your distance prescription — but presbyopia (age-related reading blur) remains. For comprehensive near and distance freedom, lens replacement (RLE) with a trifocal IOL may suit better.
Compare: Hyperopia vs presbyopia.
What to check before hyperopia LASIK
- Stable prescription 12+ months
- Pentacam / corneal tomography
- Corneal thickness (pachymetry)
- Age 21+ (stable accommodation assessment)
- Prescription still changing
- Under 21
- Keratoconus or suspicious topography
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Prescription above +5 D for LASIK (ICL may still suit)
Plus prescription?
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Related: Hyperopia guide · Hyperopia treatment options · Myopia vs hyperopia