"You might notice you're holding books, magazine or newspapers further away to see clearly," says New York city based Dr. Susan Resnick, O.D., F.A.A.O. You could also be experiencing headaches, eye strain or fatigue when doing close-up work like writing or sewing. Another clue that something is amiss is having difficulty reading in low light or trouble with the fine print on medicine bottles. All of these are symptoms of presbyopia, a natural part of the aging process where the lens of the eye gradually becomes less flexible, making it difficult to focus on things that are close. And unfortunately, it happens to everyone.
What Are My Options?
Presently, there's no way to slow down or stop this age related process, but you do have options to help you get around it. Your eye doctor can help you make the right choice for you.
Glasses
- Reading glasses are a popular choice as they're only worn when doing close work. You can purchase them over-the-counter at your local drugstore or get a higher-quality version from your eye doctor.
- Bifocal glasses have a prescription for distance vision on the upper part of the lens and a stronger prescription in the lower part of the lens for close up. There is a visible line between the two prescriptions.
- Progressive addition lenses--also known as PALS--are similar to bifocals but they give you a gradual visual transition between both prescriptions so you can't necessarily tell what they are just by looking at them.
Contact Lenses
- Don't want to wear glasses? Contacts are an easy choice whether you already wear them or have never worn them before. A multi-focal contact lens like Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia (acuvue.com) will give you clear and comfortable correction at all distances--near and far--plus they also give you the highest level of UV protection available in a contact lens.
- Monovision is another type of contact lens correction. One eye wears a distance prescription while the other eye wears a prescription for near vision. It works through a selective process that occurs in the brain.
Surgery
"Though you can't reverse presbyopia through surgery, certain surgical techniques can adjust for it," says Resnick. Plus, many new treatments are currently being researched.
- Lasik can create monovision by correcting one eye for near vision and the other eye for distance. And like the monovision contact lenses, it's a selective visual process that occurs in the brain.
- In Conductive Keratoplasty treatment, also know as CK procedure, radio waves are used to add curvature to the cornea for a higher "plus" prescription to improve near vision, though the results are temporary and diminish over time.
Your prescription, lifestyle and medical history will help you (along with your eye care practitioner) determine which presbyopia treatment is right for you.
Nancy Weinberg Simon - Nancy Weinberg Simon is a freelance writer, editor and stylist. From 1997 to 2007 she was the beauty editor at Family Circle magazine. Her ...
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