What Is Presbyopia and How Is It Treated?

As you age, your body undergoes many changes, including vision changes. One of the most common age-related eye conditions is presbyopia. It affects almost everyone over the age of 40.

What Is Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is a vision disorder that affects your ability to focus on nearby objects. The condition is a natural part of aging and usually develops around 40. It occurs because the lens in your eye loses its flexibility and ability to change shape. These capabilities are vital for you to focus on objects at varying distances.

Presbyopia Symptoms

Presbyopia symptoms include the following:
 

• Blurred vision when doing close-up work or reading

• Eye fatigue or strain

• The need to hold reading materials at arm’s length

• Headaches when doing close-up work

• Difficulty seeing in low light conditions

See your eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.

Diagnosis

Your eye doctor can diagnose presbyopia during a comprehensive eye exam. They will test your vision acuity at various distances and may also perform a refraction test to determine the correct prescription for your contact lenses and glasses.

Prescription Eyewear

Prescription eyewear is the most common treatment for presbyopia. It includes reading glasses, progressive lenses, bifocals, and trifocals. These provide clear vision at varying distances without switching between different glasses.

Reading glasses help with close-up work and reading. They have a single prescription strength and are available over-the-counter or with a prescription. Bifocals have two prescription strengths. One is for close-up work, and the other is for distance vision. The two have a visible line on the lens separating them.

Trifocal lenses have three prescription strengths. One is for close-up work, one for intermediate distances, and one for distance vision. The three prescriptions have a visible line separating them.

Progressive lenses are like bifocals and trifocal lenses. However, they have a seamless transition between the different prescription strengths. The lenses provide clear vision at all distances without visible lines.

Contact Lenses

Contact lenses can also help treat presbyopia. Multifocal contact lenses have different prescription strengths in diverse areas of the lens. They allow you to see clearly at different distances. Monovision is another contact lens option where one eye gets corrected for distance vision, and the other eye gets corrected for close-up work.

Refractive Surgery

Refractive surgery is another treatment option for presbyopia. The surgical procedures aim to reshape the cornea to improve the eye’s ability to focus on objects at varying distances. There are several types of refractive surgery available. They include LASIK, PRK, and conductive keratoplasty.

LASIK reshapes the cornea using a laser. It allows you to improve your vision at varying distances. PRK also uses a laser but differs from LASIK by removing rather than retaining the outer layer of your cornea before reshaping it using a laser.

Conductive keratoplasty, or CK, reshapes the cornea using radiofrequency energy. It aims to improve the eye’s ability to focus on objects at varying distances. Presbyopia is a progressive condition. Your eyesight may continue to change over time. Regular eye exams are vital for ensuring that your prescription is up-to-date and that any changes in your vision are detected early.

For more about presbyopia, visit Perspective Eye Care and Eye Wear at our office in Cullman, Alabama. Call (256) 692-1464 to book an appointment today.