Which condition is best treated with plus power lenses?

Plus power lenses are primarily used to correct hyperopia, also known as farsightedness. In hyperopia, distant objects may be seen more clearly than close ones because the light entering the eye focuses behind the retina. Plus lenses help by converging the light rays before they enter the eye, allowing the image to focus directly on the retina and improving clarity for near tasks.

In contrast, myopia (nearsightedness) is corrected with minus power lenses, which diverge light rays to ensure that images of distant objects are brought into proper focus on the retina. Astigmatism requires cylindrical lenses to correct the uneven curvature of the cornea or lens, affecting the focus of light rays entering the eye. Lastly, presbyopia, a condition that affects near vision typically due to aging, is often treated with reading glasses, which also can be plus lenses, but the direct correlation to hyperopia is stronger in this context. Therefore, plus power lenses are most appropriately suited for treating hyperopia specifically.