All About Presbyopia
Contact your Olive Branch, MS Eye Doctor to Find Out About Treatment Options
Many adults begin to experience presbyopia or a reduced ability to see objects that are close, as they age. With the growing international population reaching older ages, more and more individuals develop presbyopia, which currently cannot be avoided.
Many believe that presbyopia is caused because the eye will often lose flexibility by age 40, making it harder for eyes to focus in on an object, especially an object close by. Those with presbyopia usually deal with the situation by holding a newspaper far away or standing back from the object they are looking at. Shifting from focusing on far off objects to closer ones is often straining for those with presbyopia. This tension can add to one's discomfort by causing headaches, eye strain or fatigue.
The most popular corrections for presbyopia are bifocals or progressive addition lenses (PALs). A bifocal lens is divided into two points of focus, the upper portion is for viewing things from a distance and the other part of the lens is for seeing things that are close by. Progressive lenses are similar to bifocal lenses, but they offer a more subtle gradient between the two prescriptions. Wearers will more easily adjust focus, as they might having standard vision. Another option is reading glasses which, unlike bifocals or PALs which are worn all day, are used only as needed.
Presbyopes can also use multifocal contact lenses or monovision lens correction (when one eye is prescribed a correction for distance vision and the other near vision) to correct their vision impairment. Multifocal lenses aren't suitable for everyone and can sometimes be uncomfortable, so it may take a while to decide if and in what combination they work for you.
There are also surgical options that could be considered that should be talked over with your eye doctor. A lot of people are most successful combining treatments for presbyopia. Also, since presbyopia will likely worsen with age, it is likely that you will need to keep adjusting the strength of your prescription. The positive news is, there is a significant amount of experimental treatment on the market currently to identify more effective solutions for the growing number of people dealing with presbyopia.
Noticing signs of presbyopia? Schedule an appointment with your Olive Branch, MS optometrist. Improved vision is worth it!