Symptoms and Treatments for Presbyopia (Reading Glasses)

Like many of the common signs of ageing, presbyopia is unfortunately a problem that will eventually come to us all. In fact, most of us aged over 40 will have probably started to notice the signs of this common vision problem. You might initially dismiss these symptoms but eventually, as the annoyance persists, you’ll concede that something really needs to be done.

But what are the symptoms of presbyopia – also flatteringly known as “old” or “ageing” eye – and, more importantly, what treatments are available?

What is Presbyopia?

As we have already established, presbyopia is a refractive error that will eventually affect everyone. Most people will have developed presbyopia by the time they reach 35-60 years of age; however, for some, it can occur much earlier or even later.

Just like the rest of our bodies, our eyes begin to lose some of their flexibility as we get older. Presbyopia occurs when the lenses become less flexible, making them less effective at focusing light correctly on the retina. At the same time. the muscles that pull the lens into focus also become less powerful, making it more difficult for the eye to focus effectively at different distances.

What are the Symptoms of Presbyopia?

While it is a completely natural part of the ageing process, the effects of ageing eyes can be extremely irritating, potentially even preventing you from taking part in certain hobbies or activities.

Over time, the effects of presbyopia lead to a deterioration in the near vision. As a result, most people find it increasingly difficult to focus on close-up objects, making it difficult to read text in books, menus, and newspapers, and even on your phone and computer screen. You may also struggle to perform detailed tasks such as sewing or drawing.

While deterioration in your near vision is the primary symptom of presbyopia, other symptoms can include:

Reduced Tear Production

It’s not just the muscles around our lenses that get weaker as we age. Other muscles around the eye, as well as our tear ducts, can also begin to deteriorate, making them less efficient. This can result in reduced tear production which may cause your eyes to feel dry and irritated. This symptom often accompanies vision problems and can exacerbate the issue.

Needing More Light

As the effects of presbyopia begin to take hold, one of the first things you might notice is that you need more light to be able to see clearly. As the muscles in your eyes weaken, they can become less responsive to light. Your pupils may not dilate as effectively, causing them to admit less light into the eye. This might mean you need to turn up the brightness on your phone or computer screen, or simply turn on more lights to read your book or newspaper.

Changes in Colour Perception

In addition to focusing power, our colour perception begins to deteriorate as we get older. This occurs when the once-clear lens begins to discolour, particularly affecting our blue-yellow vision. Over time, you might notice it is more difficult to distinguish between certain colour shades.

Increased Glare

The loss of focusing power associated with presbyopia can cause light to be shattered across the retina as opposed to being directed at a single point. As a result, you might experience glare from bright lights or reflective surfaces. This can be particularly troublesome when driving at night.

Managing and Treating Presbyopia

Despite the inconvenience of presbyopia, many people will choose to ignore their symptoms for as long as possible. After all, it can be difficult to accept the signs of ageing – particularly when it comes to something as precious as our sight.

But, of course, this is far from an effective strategy. Sooner or later, it will come time to hold up your hands and accept that something needs to be done. This might mean sneakily purchasing a pair of cheap reading glasses from the supermarket, going all in with a pair of expensive readers, or looking for a more permanent alternative. So, what are the options for presbyopia treatment?

Reading Glasses and Contact lenses

Reading glasses are usually the go-to presbyopia solution. They are widely available, come at various price points, and can be tailored to your individual style. Moreover, if you have an existing prescription, such as for long-sightedness or short-sightedness, bifocal or varifocal lenses can be used to correct multiple fields of vision. Those who prefer a more discrete option can opt for bifocal contact lenses!

While these options can be very effective, they also come with all the downsides of glasses and contact lenses.

Monovision Surgery

For those looking for a more permanent solution, monovision surgery may once have been the go-to procedure. This involves correcting each eye to focus effectively at different distances. For example, your right eye may be corrected to see better at a distance while the left eye is corrected for better near vision. This is achieved using implantable collamer lenses (ICLs).

ICL surgery involves implanting a small lens behind the iris, in front of the eye’s natural lens. In monovision, each eye is fitted with a different lens, allowing the patient to see at both near and far distances. However, monovision does have its limits. Research indicates that only around 60% of people can tolerate this type of correction.

PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision

And now we come to the most cutting-edge solution to presbyopia: PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision. This revolutionary Laser Eye Surgery technique involves correcting each eye differently: one eye for mostly near vision and a little distance, and the other for mostly distance vision and a little near. The brain is then able to combine these two images into one clear picture – across all fields of vision!

While the theory behind PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision is similar to monovision, it is much more tolerable. In fact, blended vision is suitable for around 97% of patients with presbyopia!

So, if you’ve been ignoring the signs of presbyopia, or are simply fed up with your current solution to the problem, you might be looking for an alternative. PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision can help you to reverse the signs of ageing and enjoy clear vision for years to come!

To find out more about PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision and our other treatment options, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators or Book a Consultation today.