Presbyopia is the normal change in near vision that develops with time, gradually affecting individuals older than 40 years. It is a growing cause of visual disability due to ageing of the global population, but also the increased use of mobile phones, tablets and computers.
Get ready to be rid of your reading glasses forever!
Presbyopia symptoms
The first symptoms are increasing tiredness and strain when reading small print. There is a tendency to hold your phone or book further away in order to bring text and images into focus.
What causes presbyopia?
Presbyopia is caused by a natural decline in the elasticity of the normal lens inside your eye. This results in your lens losing its ability to accommodate and therefore focus at a range of distances. Once this causes difficulty or sluggishness in focusing for near objects, the condition is called dysfunctional lens syndrome or presbyopia.
Presbyopia treatment
The elasticity of your natural lens cannot be restored! Fortunately, there are great options available to restore your near vision:
PRESBYOND laser blended vision
PRESBYOND LASIK uses laser to sculpt the cornea and focus the dominant eye for distance and the other eye for near vision. It is different to traditional monovision, as the sophisticated wavefront laser profile expands the depth of focus for each eye and creates a smooth transition (blend zone) between the two eyes. This improves your vision whether you are reading a book or driving a car, reducing or eliminating the need for glasses.
PRESBYOND LASIK treatment is suitable for the majority of people who require glasses for reading and near work. Although used primarily to compensate for reading glasses, it is combined with correction of pre-existing short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism.
Refractive lens exchange
With lens replacement surgery, also known as refractive lens exchange, your natural lens can be replaced with a new multifocal intra-ocular lens that will provide both distance and near vision. The new lens stays in place for life and does not require replacement at a later date. The procedure also treats underlying refractive errors of the eye, such as short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism.
Our personal preference is to perform lens exchange if you are not suitable for PRESBYOND laser vision correction, e.g. if you have a high prescription or early cataract.
Multifocal contact lenses
Multifocal contact lenses are becoming increasingly popular. They can provide good distance and near vision, but commonly their quality of vision is affected by movement of the contact lens with blinking. Contact lens wear does also carry on-going and long-term risks, such as dry eye, intolerance, infection and visual loss.
If you suffer from short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hypermetropia), astigmatism or need reading glasses AND would like to be spectacle-free, book a free no-obligation screening appointment at our ClarisVision website; alternatively call 02381 812281. Our consultant eye surgeon Aris Konstantopoulos will discuss the best treatment option for you.