Presbyopia is an eye condition that causes the eye’s natural lens to lose its flexibility and the ability to focus. Symptoms include eyestrain and headache, as well as the decreased ability to focus on close objects, such as smart phones and computers. Loss of near vision typically occurs in the 40s and progresses into the 60s.
Because presbyopia is a condition, not a disease, it cannot be cured. It can be treated with glasses or contact lens, or it can be corrected with refractive surgery.
Generally speaking, there are two ways to address presbyopia with vision correction surgery. Those two options are monovision, also called “blended vision”, or a refractive lens exchange with an intraocular lens (IOL), like the PanOptix lens, Vivity, or Light Adjustable lens. Our eye doctors can either perform laser vision correction (LASIK or PRK) or a refractive lens exchange.
Monovision is a technique for correcting presbyopia in which only one eye is treated for near-vision correction. Within four to six weeks of the treatment, the brain automatically adjusts to the change and the eyes focus together without any blur. Contact lens patients have been treated successfully for more than 20 years with monovision. Monovision can be achieved with laser eye surgery or refractive lens exchange.
Once people have reached middle-age, it is not uncommon for near vision to deteriorate, making it harder to see up-close objects clearly. Often due to presbyopia, a condition that causes hardening of the eye’s natural lens, people typically need reading glasses for near tasks like reading. Presbyopia can ultimately get worse and lead to complete dependence on reading glasses.
Refractive lens exchange can be an effective way to permanently correct vision. Refractive Lens Exchange treatment (RLE) is a procedure that uses laser technology to replace the eye’s natural lens with an intraocular lens implant. RLE with the LenSx® Femtosecond Laser can ultimately prevent presbyopia from causing further vision problems, and may even improve your vision so much that you will not need corrective eyewear to clearly see far or near objects.
Depending on your eyes, your lifestyle, and your visual needs, our team will determine the best procedure to correct your vision. Our surgeon, Alan Faulkner, MD, will discuss these options with you to create a personalized plan to help you reduce or eliminate your need for glasses.
Approved by the FDA in October 2021, Vuity is the first prescription eyedrop designed to treat presbyopia – a groundbreaking development in the ophthalmological field. Vuity eyedrops function similarly to traditional eyedrops, generally administered once daily and taking effect after around 15 minutes. The solution in these drops can temporarily shrink the pupils, which can improve farsightedness for three to six hours at a time.
Aloha Laser Vision is dedicated to meeting the vision needs of our patients by providing safe, high-quality eye surgery procedures. We are proud to serve patients from Honolulu, Hawaii and beyond, and look forward to helping them attain their optimal vision. Please contact Aloha Laser Vision today to learn more about how we can help.