Posted by: Mann Eye in Eye Health

Today, let’s dive into a topic that might hit close to home for many of us – presbyopia. Whether you’ve experienced it yourself or have friends and family navigating the world of reading glasses, presbyopia is a common part of the aging process that we all eventually encounter.

“Presbyopia eventually effects 100% of our patients as they reach their mid to late 40s. Fortunately, we now have several treatment options to compensate for this inability to focus on near tasks. A comprehensive eye examination will reveal if LASIK surgery, laser lens surgery, pharmaceutical eye drops, contact lenses, or spectacle correction will provide the best option to accommodate our patients’ needs.”

– Phillip Brunson, OD, FAAO

What is Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is often referred to as the “aging eye condition.” But fear not, it’s a natural part of growing older and is a result of changes in the eye’s lens over time. Typically, it becomes noticeable in our early to mid-40s and continues to progress with age. 

What causes presbyopia? 

To understand presbyopia, let’s get a bit technical (but don’t worry, we’ll keep it light). Our eyes have a crystalline lens that changes shape to focus on objects at varying distances. As we age, this lens loses its flexibility, making it harder for our eyes to focus on close-up objects. 

What are the symptoms of presbyopia? 

So, how do you know if presbyopia is paying you a visit? If you find yourself holding menus at arm’s length, struggling to read in low light, or experiencing eye strain when reading for extended periods, you might be living with presbyopia. 

The great news is that at Mann Eye Institute, our doctors and surgeons have extensive experience in the management of presbyopia and they are ready to help you navigate the options that can help you See Life Better. 

Explore your vision correction options at Mann Eye Institute 

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) 

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) presents a personalized vision correction option that has helped numerous individuals, like yourself, achieve clear vision. Depending on the Active Life Lens you choose, a refractive lens exchange could decrease your daily dependence on glasses, contacts, and reading aids. That’s right! Refractive Lens Exchange can correct your vision now AND eliminate the possibility of cataracts in the future! With Refractive Lens Exchange, sometimes called Clear Lens Exchange, the eye’s natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens to improve vision. This is done in a comfortable outpatient setting.  

Refractive Lens Exchange can address a variety of vision challenges, including: 

  • Nearsightedness 
  • Farsightedness 
  • Astigmatism 
  • Presbyopia (over-40 vision) 

Blended LASIK 

Maybe you’ve heard that you aren’t a good candidate for traditional LASIK– this is where Blended LASIK comes in. LASIK for blended vision (sometimes called monovision) is a great option for people wanting to have LASIK but struggling with reading vision as well. 

Here’s how Blended LASIK works: one eye is corrected for distance and the other eye for near vision. Our wonderful and complex brains figure it all out, and your eyes work together to allow you to see well at both distances, without the help of corrective lenses. 

Medications

Another option to restore your vision is through medication. Introducing the first FDA-approved prescription eye drop that improves presbyopia in adults – Vuity™! 

Vuity™ (pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution) 1.25% prescription eye drops are a non-surgical treatment option designed to be applied once a day at home in each eye. Vuity works by reducing your pupil size, contracting certain muscles in the eye so you can see up close. In studies, Vuity improved near vision in patients without compromising their distance vision – without the need for reading glasses. 

See Life Better at Mann Eye Institute 

While presbyopia might mark a shift in your vision, it’s great to know that reading glasses aren’t your only option. So, next time you reach for those reading glasses, remember – Mann Eye has solutions to help you see clearly and comfortably at any distance! 

Schedule your 100% free consultation today to find out which vision correction option will help you say goodbye to the BLUR!