Presbyopia Correction- Eliminate the Need for Reading Glasses
Everyone starts to lose some near vision when we reach the 40s. This results from gradual stiffening of the natural human lens in the eye, with a loss of the ability to focus up close as we age. It is a natural part of the ageing process, which progresses until about 60 years of age. At first, we may start to notice that lighting needs to be bright enough to read fine print. Later, holding things further away may be necessary to read comfortably. In later years, reading aids or surgical options may be necessary.
This age-related vision loss is medically known as Presbyopia. Fortunately there are correction and treatment options available if you are experiencing presbyopia symptoms.
Treatment Options for Presbyopia
The most common way to address this problem is with bifocal spectacles, although people with myopia may find that all they need to do is to take off their glasses to read. Alternative nonsurgical methods involve bifocal or multifocal contact lenses, and contact lenses worn for an optical approach called “monovision”. Essentially, this calls for full optical presbyopia correction with a contact lens in the master eye, with slight under correction in the other eye, leaving a low amount of myopia or short-sightedness. This low amount of myopia allows clear near vision.
If you have dry eyes or other problems making contact lenses unsuitable for you, and would still like to be without glasses, here are some good options for you.
Presbyopia is an age-related condition that starts developing around the age of 40 to 45 years and progresses differently among various individuals. As we age, the eye lens gets cloudy and stiff, and the stiffness leads to presbyopia which can further develop into cataracts. Cataract surgery is the most recommended procedure for presbyopia correction (when cataracts are already present) where the clouded lens is replaced with a multifocal lens which allows for clear distance, intermediate and near vision. This prevents the worsening of presbyopia as it is corrected at the level of the lens implant.
If you already have cataracts, then the best option for you would be cataract surgery with implantation of multifocal lenses. These new premium lens implants will restore both your distance and near vision, similar to what you were used to in your 30s, without the need for glasses.
If you are seeing the symptoms of presbyopia, visit our eye care clinic today in Singapore.
Frequently Asked Questions About Presbyopia Correction
There are five types of presbyopia:
- Premature presbyopia: Presbyopia happening before the age of 40 years.
- Incipient presbyopia: Earliest stage when it becomes difficult to read small prints.
- Functional presbyopia: More problems with near sight.
- Absolute presbyopia: Eyes cannot focus on near objects at all.
- Nocturnal presbyopia: Eyes cannot focus on near objects in low light conditions.
For presbyopia correction, the doctor will first test your eyes for the severity and will then suggest the right treatment.
When you reach the age of 40, your eyesight starts to deteriorate. This is because the lenses in your eyes become less flexible, making it difficult for you to focus on close objects. Presbyopia is a natural part of the ageing process and affects everyone to some degree. There are several other factors that can contribute to presbyopia, including diabetes, high blood pressure, cataracts, or glaucoma. If you have any of these conditions, you may be more likely to develop presbyopia at an earlier age. However, timely treatment for presbyopia can save the condition from getting worse.
Cataract surgery is the most common and recommended treatment for presbyopia. Presbyopia occurs with age when you start losing ability to focus on near objects. This happens due to the natural ageing of the lens inside the eye, which becomes harder and less elastic over time. Today, with technological advances, it has become possible to treat presbyopia with cataract surgery through multifocal lens replacement.
There are several treatment options available for presbyopia, and the best option for each individual may vary depending on factors such as age, health, and lifestyle. Some common treatment options include reading glasses, bifocals, or monovision contact lenses. Cataract surgery is also a popular treatment for presbyopia, which involves multifocal lens replacement where the patient’s natural lenses are replaced with multifocal IOLs. This can correct presbyopia improving both the near and far-distance vision.
There are various types of eye surgery that can be used for presbyopia correction including cataract surgery, refractive lens exchange and others. Which type of surgery is best to correct presbyopia for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. For a better evaluation of your eye condition and presbyopia correction, book an appointment today to visit our clinic in Singapore.
About Dr Christopher Khng
Dr. Christopher Khng, specialises in Complex Cataract and Anterior Segment Reconstruction Surgery, in particular, Iris Reconstruction and Surgery for Aniridia. His other areas of expertise include Complex Lens surgery, New Lens and Phacoemulsification technologies, Refractive surgery, Phakic IOLs (the Implantable Collamer Lens, ICL), and small-incision, topical anesthesia phacoemulsification cataract surgery.
He completed his first two years of medical undergraduate studies in Aberdeen University, Scotland (UK), finishing top in his medical class in both years. Because of cost, he completed his medical degrees of MBBS at National University of Singapore (NUS).
Dr. Khng served as Registrar, then Associate Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC). Following his stint in SNEC, Dr. Khng was a Consultant at The Eye Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
Dr Christopher Khng
MBBS, M.Med(Ophth), FRCS(Edin), AMS(Ophth 2003) Consultant Ophthalmologist