Nearsightedness: Overcorrection After Surgery

Topic Overview

Overcorrection makes an eye that was nearsighted before surgery farsighted (hyperopia) after surgery. Overcorrection speeds up the start of presbyopia. Most people who have overcorrection will need reading glasses around age 40. Improvements in surgical techniques are reducing the risk of overcorrection.

Surgery to correct overcorrection is possible. But it is hard to predict how well it will work.

With radial keratotomy (RK) surgery, the number of people who are overcorrected or farsighted seems to increase as more time (years) passes after the procedure. These changes over time are believed to be caused by the hyperopic shift. The hyperopic shift is less common in people who have had laser surgery.

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Credits

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerKathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerChristopher J. Rudnisky, MD, MPH, FRCSC - Ophthalmology
Last RevisedJune 24, 2011
By: Healthwise StaffLast Revised: June 24, 2011
Medical Review: Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, MPH, FRCSC - Ophthalmology

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