Presbyopia Nashville

Presbyopia is a common vision problem that generally occurs with aging. Presbyopia refers to the condition in which the eyes lose the ability to focus on close objects. The condition develops gradually and tends to produce noticeable symptoms when a person reaches his or her late 30s to mid-40s. Dr. Walter Choate offers a wide range of options for treating presbyopia at his Nashville practice. To learn about specific treatments, please contact Dr. Choate today.

The Signs and Symptoms of Presbyopia

Presbyopia is extremely common. Most people begin to notice the signs and symptoms of presbyopia in their late thirties to mid-forties. As the condition worsens, focusing on nearby objects becomes increasingly difficult. Many with presbyopia find reading at close distances difficult and may find they need to hold a book or magazine further away to be able to properly focus their eyes. The difficulty of focusing the eyes may also lead to headaches or eyestrain. Dim lighting, fatigue, or alcohol consumption can make the symptoms of presbyopia worse. These symptoms include:

• Blurred vision of nearby objects
• Difficulty reading at close distance
• Needing to hold reading materials further away to focus the eyes
• Eyestrain or headaches when reading

The Causes of Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a naturally occurring condition caused by the aging process. Specifically, presbyopia is caused by the hardening of the lens within the eye. As the lens hardens, the eye loses the ability to focus on close objects.

For some people, presbyopia may develop at an earlier age as a result of factors such as medical problems or certain drugs. Medical conditions that may cause presbyopia include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and multiple sclerosis. Drugs that may lead to premature presbyopia include diuretics, antidepressants, and antihistamines.

Treating Presbyopia

There are many options when it comes to treating presbyopia. Dr. Choate uses digital imaging and measuring techniques to provide the highest-quality vision correction treatments. Dr. Choate can help restore a patient's vision with proven treatments such as contact lenses and digitally produced eyeglasses. Dr. Choate offers digitally produced eyeglasses as they allow for incredible accuracy in vision correction with capabilities to measure to tenths of a millimeter. Digitally produced eyeglasses can be crafted with progressive and variable focus designs to restore vision to full function. Contact lenses, including soft, gas-permeable, rigid contacts, and SynergEyes hybrids are also proven treatments for correcting presbyopia. For presbyopic patients who require cataract surgery, multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) can be placed to correct both clouded vision and the focusing problems resulting from presbyopia. Multifocal IOLs can restore vision potentially to the point that reading glasses are no longer needed.

Schedule a Consultation

For most, presbyopia is an unavoidable part of aging. Fortunately, there are many treatments to restore vision and correct the symptoms of the condition. To discuss your personalized treatment options or to learn more about presbyopia, we welcome you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Choate at our optometrist's office in Goodlettsville, TN.