Presbyopia2022-03-07T10:06:19+00:00

Presbyopia is the gradual loss of your eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects as you age

We can reduce your dependency on reading glasses with the latest vision correction treatments

Presbyopia is the gradual loss of your eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects as you age

We can reduce your dependency on reading glasses with the latest vision correction treatments

Escape the reading glasses trap

Discover more about this condition and how to treat it

Presbyopia incidence / prevalence

Presbyopia is an age-related condition where switching focus between distant and up-close objects becomes difficult.

As children, our ability to switch focus freely and with perfect clarity between distant and up-close objects was seamless. But as we age, that ability diminishes, and the switch in focus becomes more noticeable and more difficult.

The reason for presbyopia comes down to our natural lens’ loss of elasticity. This results in the need to wear different glasses for different focal lengths – near and far. Those that can currently see well at a distance will require glasses to assist close-up focus and vice-versa. This condition becomes noticeable once we reach our late 40s.

We can diagnose presbyopia with a routine eye examination.

Traditionally, people treat this condition with bifocals or glasses that feature two focal lengths. However, those who want to enjoy more freedom and convenience can opt for Lasik Blended Vision (monovision). Here we correct one eye for close-up vision and the other for distance. This removes the need for glasses altogether. Find out more about Lasik Blended Vision here.

See also long-sightedness and short-sightedness.

Can eye exercise help to reverse presbyopia?

No exercise can help reverse this normal age-related change to our focus.

I had good vision in my 20’s after LASIK. Why suddenly I can no longer see well at close up in my mid to late 40s?

LASIK can not prevent the onset of presbyopia. If you had good distance vision in both eyes earlier in life, this means you would have difficulties with near vision in the mid to late 40s. But there are solutions for this. You can remove your need for reading glasses with an additional laser procedure or with refractive lens exchange.

Should I have laser vision correction or refractive lens exchange for presbyopia?

Laser vision correction can be an effective solution to combat presbyopia in the early to mid-stages. By employing a special technique called “blended vision,” we can correct one eye for distance and one eye for near. The brain then “blends” the two points of focus to create binocular distance and near vision.

This option is not for everyone. Alternatively, you could consider multifocal refractive lens exchange to achieve binocular distance and near vision.

Can presbyopia result in blindness?

Presbyopia is a normal age-related change to the focus of our eye and does not cause blindness. Other age-related eye diseases could result in blindness if left untreated.

Gain relief from a worrying eye condition

We understand that any issue with your eyes can be a weight on your shoulders. Give us a call to book your appointment today, and we’ll help you get to the bottom of your issue and put your mind at ease.

Gain relief from a worrying eye condition

We understand that any issue with your eyes can be a weight on your shoulders. Give us a call to book your appointment today, and we’ll help you get to the bottom of your issue and put your mind at ease.

Are you struggling with the hassle of reading glasses?

Choose the option below that sounds most like you to discover your best solution

I’ve worn glasses my whole life

In that case, you’re used to glasses by now. But that doesn’t mean you want another pair! Unfortunately, as our eyes age, we develop presbyopia which is the loss of near vision. Reading becomes difficult. You often need to swap between glasses every time you switch tasks. This constant on, off, on, off routine can become frustrating. Discover how you can improve your vision, reduce your need for glasses (and avoid future cataract surgery too).

LEARN MORE

I’m new to reading glasses

If you’ve lived a life without glasses, the arrival of presbyopia (the need for reading glasses as you age) can be a harsh reminder that you’re getting older. Before you know it, readers are everywhere you look- around your neck, in your pockets, and in every room of the house. But when you really need them, they’re suddenly nowhere. You find yourself reminiscing about the good old days when your vision could keep up with your lifestyle. It’s not too late to improve your vision and enjoy more convenience . (You’ll avoid future cataract surgery too).

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We are proud to be associated with top quality private medical insurers

Give us a call to understand how your insurance can help cover your treatment

Read again without glasses in 3 easy steps

Treatment options to restore reading vision can be confusing. We’ve made the journey as straightforward as can be

Get in touch

The first step is to get a clear answer on whether there is a treatment option that can help you or not. Give our friendly team a call on
0800 99 2020 or book an appointment today.

We’ll meet

At your assessment , we’ll answer your questions and give you a clear and honest recommendation based on your visual needs and lifestyle. You’ll leave with a confident understanding of the best treatment option for your unique eyes.

Feel younger

After treatment, we often hear how surprised patients are by how quickly their life changed and how young they feel. Reading a restaurant menu, scanning their phone or seeing the dials on the car dashboard are all possible once more. Most people say that they wish they had done it years earlier!

Watch the best patient education videos on refractive lens exchange in New Zealand

Get a quick overview of everything you need to know about gaining visual freedom

What causes cataracts?

Cataracts are described as the clouding of the lens in the eye. Whilst it is often age-related, there are a few other causes that you should be aware of. In this short video, Dr Adam Watson tells you all you need to know about cataracts and their causes…

Additional resources on treating presbyopia

Follow the links below to learn more about treating presbyopia from authoritative sources.

Presbyopia is an eye condition in which your eye slowly loses the ability to focus quickly on objects that are close. It’s a disorder that affects everyone during the natural aging process.

When light enters your eye, it passes through your cornea. Then, it passes through your pupil. Your iris is the colored ring in your eye that opens and closes your pupil to adjust the amount of light passing through it.

After passing through your pupil, the light passes through your lens. In its healthiest state, your lens changes shape so it can bend the light rays further and focus them on your retina at the back of your eye.

Your lens becomes less flexible with age. Then, it can’t change shape as easily. As a result, it’s unable to bend the light properly to focus it on your retina.

Click here to read more.

In the past, the usual remedy for presbyopia was to wear reading glasses or multifocal eyeglasses, such as bifocals or progressive lenses.

A number of attempts have been made to develop a surgical correction for presbyopia over the years. Some, such as conductive keratoplasty (CK), initially showed promise, but haven’t gained widespread use by refractive surgeons.

Certain new types of surgery for presbyopia have received FDA approval for use in the United States, and there are also new procedures still in development or approved only outside the U.S.

Click here to read more.

Note: These links will take you off our website

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