What type of lens is primarily used to correct hyperopia?

Hyperopia, commonly referred to as farsightedness, is a refractive error where distant objects may be seen more clearly than nearby objects because light entering the eye is focused behind the retina. To correct this issue, a convex lens is utilized.

A convex lens is thicker in the center and thinner at the edges. This shape aids in converging light rays that enter the eye, allowing them to focus directly on the retina, rather than behind it, thus improving near vision. The convex lens effectively compensates for the eye’s inability to focus on nearby objects, enabling individuals with hyperopia to see better at closer distances.

In the context of the other options, a concave lens is primarily used to correct myopia (nearsightedness), where light is focused in front of the retina; a cylindrical lens is used for astigmatism to correct uneven curvature of the cornea; and a prismatic lens is mainly utilized to address issues related to binocular vision, such as strabismus or diplopia. These lenses do not provide the necessary corrective effect for hyperopia, making the convex lens the appropriate choice.