PRESBYOPIA - THE AGING EYE

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Presbyopia is the normal process of aging, where the natural lens of the eye loses some of the flexibility that characterizes a younger eye. This usually occurs at age 40-50. Everyone experiences presbyopia, some sooner, some later. Because of this normal process, nearsighted people begin to wear bifocals in their forties, and those who never needed glasses before may require reading glasses. 

The one advantage to mild myopia is the ability to remove your glasses after age 40 and continue to read (your myopia effectively counteracts your presbyopia). After having the excimer laser procedure, you will lose this ability. You will typically be normally sighted after the procedure, and you will need reading glasses for small print, like every other normally sighted person at age 40-50. 

The excimer laser has no effect on your focusing muscles. Patients who are experiencing the effects of presbyopia can be helped by the excimer laser by setting up one eye for near vision and the other eye for distance vision. This is called mono vision. There are new techniques being developed for this condition. Ask your doctor if you are a candidate for these new procedures.

 

When presbyopia sets in at age 43-47 it becomes difficult to read materials placed closer than 3-4 feet. It is possible to place a special reading lens in front of the eye to bring the reading or near image back into focus on the retina.