Presbyopia - Treatment Options

Presbyopia is an age-related eye condition. As a result of the natural aging process, the eye slowly loses its ability to focus, particularly on near objects. It is believed to result from a loss of elasticity or flexibility in the lens of the eye. The name “presbyopia” actually translates into “elder eye,” and symptoms of presbyopia are usually noticed between the ages of 40 and 50. The first symptoms often include difficulty reading fine print, especially in low light, eye strain after reading for long periods of time, or momentarily blurred vision when transitioning from far to near objects.

The closest point at which an object can be brought into focus by the eye is called the eye’s near point. In childhood, this distance is usually about 10 centimeters. Most adults have a near point of about 25 centimeters. As a result of presbyopia, the near point may increase to a distance of one meter or more.

Although presbyopia cannot be cured or stopped, there are treatment options. Reading glasses, bifocals, or contact lenses can be used to correct the inability to focus. Often, a method called “monovision” is chosen. One eye is corrected for near vision, and the other is corrected for far vision. Because your eyes will continue to change as you age, prescriptions for presbyopia will need to be increased over time as well, as a stronger correction is needed to overcome the effects of presbyopia.

For those who do not want to wear eyeglasses or contacts, surgery may be an option. This includes the implantation of synthetic lenses (known as intraocular lenses or IOLs) or laser eye surgery. Laser eye surgery options include LASIK or CK, both of which use laser energy to permanently change the shape of the cornea by vaporizing small amounts of tissue. Usually, LASIK and CK involve a monovision technique in which only one cornea is reshaped, allowing better near vision in that eye while leaving the other eye alone for far vision. In many cases, eye doctors suggest trying out monovision with contacts prior to undergoing laser eye surgery, as some people find it hard to adjust to this change, and LASIK results cannot be undone.