Vision Changes Due To Aging

As we get older crystalline lens of our eyes begins to lose flexibility, which causes a gradual loss of the focusing ability we had when we were younger and the lens could flex to accommodate all distances of vision. This condition is called presbyopia. Not being able to focus is what causes your vision for close up work such as reading or viewing a computer screen to blur. This usual begins around the age of 40 for most and can often be noticed when you have to start holding things at arms length to read it and presbyopia surgery is a treatment that can correct it.

The literal meaning of Presbyopia translates as "old eyes". However irritating it may be, this process is normal and expected as we age. For those who already had glasses, Presbyopia may necessitate bifocals or trifocals. For those who have been lucky enough never to have needed glasses, the condition will probably just require reading glasses.

If diagnosed with Presbyopia, you have several treatment options depending on your situation. There are a several eyeglass lenses that can help the near vision if you have Presbyopia. If you have never had to correct your distance vision before and have 20/20 vision for seeing distances, you will be able to get away with investing in reading glasses. Reading glasses do not let you to see far away, but they will improve your focusing ability while reading or doing other close work. If you are alternating between close and far vision tasks, such as driving and reading a map, the reading glasses will prove useless. You will need bifocals or trifocals for that type of use.

The most common style of bifocal eyeglasses are the Flat Top Bifocals. This type is made of two separate segments-one for distance vision and one for close vision. The near vision can be varying sizes. You may prefer the second style of bifocal called the Executive Bifocal. These lenses are also divided into two sections, but the division goes the whole width of the lens. Bifocals have the disadvantage of not allowing a continuous range of clear vision .If you have something at arms length ,it may be blurry. Trifocal lenses divided into three sections-one distance, one for close up and one for in-between distances. These still do not offer a completely clear vision field. A new style of glasses for presbyopia are Progressive Addition Lenses, which create a continuous range of vision.

Contact lenses are also available for presbyopia. The lens is divided just as the glasses would be. The can be ordered in both soft contact lenses and rigid oxygen permeable contact lenses. However, the most prescribed contact lenses are the rigid oxygen permeable designs.

You may also want to experiment with Monovision contact lenses. The doctor fits for Presbyopia, by correcting one eye-usually the dominant one-for distance vision while he/she corrects the other eye for near vision. It is amazing how, depending on the distance you are trying to focus on, your brain will "select" the image that is in focus to give you continuous seamless vision. Unfortunately, some patients loose their depth perception, although most adapt to Monovision contact lenses well.

Presbyopia Surgery may be the treatment choice for you. Three types of surgery can correct Presbyopia and near vision. The first is corneal laser eye surgery, which is often performed with monovision Lasik. The second choice is multifocal and accommodative intraocular lens implants. This involves removing and replacing the crystalline lens. The newest research includes surgical reversal of presbyopia. Although there are a number of studies, the data collected is not yet complete so it has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

While the treatment of Presbyopia may seems simple, all information needs to be carefully considered before deciding between glasses or presbyopia surgery.

You should follow the advice of your eye care professional to help you find the best way to improve your vision.

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