What type of lens is used for correcting hyperopia?

In the context of correcting hyperopia, or farsightedness, a convex lens is specifically designed to alleviate this condition. Hyperopia occurs when the eye is too short relative to its focusing power, causing distant objects to be seen clearly while near objects appear blurry.

Convex lenses are thicker at the center and thinner at the edges. This shape allows them to converge light rays before they enter the eye, effectively increasing the eye's focusing power. By doing so, these lenses help to bring closer objects into clearer focus, thereby addressing the visual difficulties faced by individuals with hyperopia.

Concave lenses, on the other hand, are used to correct myopia (nearsightedness), while bifocal lenses contain both concave and convex segments for patients requiring correction for both hyperopia and myopia. The term "spherical lens" is more general and refers to the shape of the lens rather than its specific optical properties used for a particular refractive error. Thus, the convex lens is the appropriate choice for addressing hyperopia.