Presbyopia and Treatments for Presbyopia – Eye Care and Treatment Information

Presbyopia is a condition in which the eye exhibits a progressively diminished ability to focus on near objects with age. This condition first appears around age 45 or 50. An individual will notice increasing difficulty seeing things up close and may need to hold books or sewing farther away from their eyes to see them clearly. Reading glasses can also restore the near vision that is lost due to presbyopia.

Presbyopia's exact causes are not known but research evidence most strongly supports a loss in the elasticity of the crystalline lens. Changes in the lens' curvature from continual growth and loss of power of the ciliary muscles (the muscles that bend and straighten the lens) is another leading theory. Presbyopia becomes much less noticeable in bright sunlight. This is because the iris closes to a smaller diameter.

Presbyopia is not curable and is a natural part of the human aging process. In recent years there have been significant advances in treatment options. Contact lenses and glasses are two treatment options. As the focusing loss increases though the prescription must be changed more frequently also. A type of surgery called conductive keratoplasty (CK) is also one treatment option for people suffering from presbyopia.

Typical CK candidates suffer from the symptoms of presbyopia and have very good distance vision without the aid of glasses or contact lenses. CK will make one eye nearsighted in order to treat presbyopia with a monovision effect. The other eye will need good distance vision for a person to see clearly in all situations. Oftentimes a pair of eyeglasses should be used for night driving after CK. Your eye doctor may recommend that you wear a contact lens for near vision correction on one eye for a period of time to make sure that you will adapt to monovision.





For additional information about LASIK and PRK laser eye surgery near Boston, as well as laser vision correction near Boston, it is important to visit a Boston LASIK laser vision correction office for a consultation.