PRESBYOPIA (prez-bee-O-pee-ah)

Presbyopia is a normal decline in close-range focusing ability of our eyes with time.

Presbyopia seems to come suddenly but actually it does not. Our eyes have maximum focusing ability in our early teens; however, by the time we reach our seventies, our eyes have lost all of their variable focusing ability.  A person with good distance vision will typically notice the beginning of close-range difficulty in his or her late thirties or early forties.  All healthy eyes will change NATURALLY and PREDICTABLY with the passage of time.  The cause of presbyopia is not a weakening of the eye muscles but rather a loss of elasticity of the focusing lens inside the eye.

Wearing proper prescription WILL NOT WEAKEN or change your future visual status in any way.  The effects of presbyopia constantly change.  As a result, periodic updates in your prescription are necessary to maintain correct visual function at all ranges of vision.  Eyeglasses, bifocals, trifocals and contact lenses are all available to remedy this common, unavoidable visual condition. 

  

 

LENS CORRECTION OPTIONS FOR PRESBYOPIA

 Reading Glasses: 

Many people that have acceptable vision for distance WITHOUT glasses can function adequately with a pair of glasses for reading only.  Reading glasses provide a SINGLE power – meaning they will be properly focused at only one distance.  We usually will set the power for reading in the 16 – 20” (40 – 50 cm) distance.  The power can also be set for other distances, such as needed for computers (ie. 22 – 28”).  The main disadvantage with reading glasses is the LIMITATION OF RANGE of usable vision.

 OTC Readers:     Many drug and retail stores have racks containing various styles and powers of reading glasses.  These may often be quite adequate for many patients, as long as BOTH EYES ARE SIMILAR IN THEIR POWER REQUIREMENT.  We can advise you if this form of correction can be used by you. 

 

 Progressives:     This is term for “no-line” bifocals.  Patients needing a distance and near visual correction can have both incorporated into a single lens.  These lenses are available in virtually all lens materials and designs, and have the significant advantage of allowing clear and comfortable vision at almost all distances.  Patients who require the ability to see at both distance and near at the same time are ideal candidates for this type of lens.

 

 Bifocals/Trifocals:

  • These are multifocal lenses WITH DEFINED READING SEGMENTS.  They have a single area for distance vision and a separate and defined area near vision.  Their advantage is that the lens power is constant within the required area (ie. either all distance or all reading) and you only have to learn to look in one area or the other.  The primary disadvantage is that many patients find the presence of a “line” in the lens is bothersome.

 Contact Lenses:  There are several options for presbyopia with contact lenses.  Bifocal designs are available in both soft and rigid lens material.  We also can use a method termed “monovision” (one eye for distance/one eye for reading).

 If you have any questions about any of these options, please inquire!  

For more information on presbyopia follow this link Presbyopia