Treatments for Presbyopia
Presbyopia is a natural condition of the eye that occurs in people as they age. This condition, which usually develops around the age of 40, makes it difficult for patients to focus on objects that are close up. Unlike farsightedness, which is a result of abnormalities in the shape of the cornea, presbyopia is a natural result of aging that causes the eye’s lens to lose its natural flexibility. Fortunately, our optometrists at Choate Eye Associates offer our Nashville patients presbyopia treatment so that this condition does not interfere with a patient’s day-to-day activities.
Because presbyopia is different than other visual impairments such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, it cannot be corrected by making alterations to the shape of the cornea. Therefore, presbyopia is not necessarily a condition that can be treated with refractive surgery such as LASIK (unless the patient opts to undergo monovision LASIK in which one eye is corrected for near vision and the other for distance vision). Instead, the simplest and most effective treatment for presbyopia is corrective lenses. This includes glasses or contact lenses.
Glasses
Glasses are the most common treatment for presbyopia. There are different lenses for patients with presbyopia. For patients who suffer only from presbyopia, reading lenses are a good solution. These lenses allow patients to focus on up close objects for comfortable reading.
Patients who require more than one prescription for vision correction can benefit from bifocal lenses, which use the top part of the lens to correct distance vision and the lower part of the lens to correct near vision. Another option is progressive lenses.
Progressive lenses offer a gradual blending of two prescriptions so that a single lens can correct vision near and far. While some patients are hesitant to wear eyewear because they fear it will interfere with their style, we believe that the opposite is true. The wide variety of styles offered at our optical boutique (including designer brands) allows patients to choose eyeglass frames that complement facial features and enhance personal style.
Contact Lenses
Patients who do not wish to wear eyeglasses do have the option of contact lenses. Dr. Choate is a leader in contact lens treatment and offers a full range of contact lenses. The two most common contact lenses used to treat presbyopia are multifocal lenses and monovision lenses. Monovision lenses use two different prescription lenses. One lens corrects vision at a distance while the other lens corrects up close vision. Multifocal contact lenses are similar to bifocals and progressive lenses in that they allow patients to benefit from the correction of near and far vision with a single lens.
Whether a patient prefers the fashion and style of eyeglasses or would prefer the discreet look of contact lenses, our eye doctors can offer effective presbyopia treatment to fit any patient’s unique lifestyle.
Schedule an Appointment
Presbyopia is a condition that most of us will eventually have to deal with. If you are looking for effective treatment of presbyopia, our eye doctors at Choate Eye Associates can help. Schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience to discuss how glasses or contact lenses can restore your clear vision. We care about your vision and we are here to help!
