Presbyopia
Have you recently started needing reading glasses?
From around the age of 45, most people find themselves needing to wear glasses to read, or to see very fine details. We hold our mobile phones at arm’s length to read them; reach for a torch to read the menu in dimly-lit restaurants; and the instructions on the backs of medicine bottles are almost impossible to read.
This is due to an age-related change to vision, known as “presbyopia.” Presbyopia is progressive, unavoidable, and will affect almost all of us, regardless of whether or not we needed glasses when we were younger, or whether or not we previously had laser eye surgery.
Presbyopia starts by impacting close-up vision (like reading), but over time it also impacts our distant vision, so for example road-signs become harder to read. This is when many people start to need bi-focal glasses, or swap between different pairs of glasses for different activities.
Understanding presbyopia
Causes
Presbyopia is caused when the muscles in your eye harden and lose flexibility, and the lenses begin to change. You’ll first start noticing that you need reading glasses to see close-up objects. Over time, presbyopia will also affect your distance (eg. driving) vision.
Presbyopia is not an illness, and it’s not something that can be avoided: it is the natural effect of the ageing process on your vision, very much similar to the gradual appearance and progress of grey hair or wrinkles.
Testing
When you come to Medownick Laser Clinic for your free assessment, we perform a thorough series of tests designed to understand your vision, the progress of presbyopia, and check for other vision factors such as the early signs of cataracts.
Based on your test results, we are able to advise the opportunities available for you to see naturally.
Treatment
It is possible to use laser eye surgery to perform what is known as Mono Vision to correct presbyopia. One eye is corrected for close vision (like reading), and the other for distance (like driving), and the brain learns to merge the two. This procedure is not suitable for everyone, but we can discuss if you are interested in knowing more.
However, most of our patients with presbyopia prefer to undergo an advanced lens replacement. This procedure, which involves gently removing the affected (presbyopic) lens and replacing it with a new intraocular lens (IOL), can give them a long-term vision correction solution that allows them to see clearly at close, middle and distant ranges.
Life after vision correction surgery
Many of our patients describe the experience as literally turning back the clock on their eyes. They are able to see close, middle and far distances better than they have in decades, and many say their vision is better than it ever was.
They are completely freed from needing to remember to carry driving glasses and reading glasses, frowning over the top of multi-focals, shining phone torches on small print, and feeling afraid to drive at night. What’s more, these patients never develop cataracts, so can enjoy their “young” eyes for decades beyond retirement.
Ready to turn back time?
Your first step is simple, and free. Simply click here to book a FREE appointment at our clinic in Richmond, Victoria. During this appointment, we will thoroughly assess your vision, and give you honest guidance and information about your suitability for laser eye surgery. The assessment is free, and there is absolutely no obligation for you to go ahead with any procedure.