Discover Vision Centers has been at the forefront of treating presbyopia with presbyopia correction surgery for almost 30 years. We have been involved in clinical studies for over 25 years. With this work and understanding the safest and most efficient options we are happy to assist patients who want to improve their reading vision with minimal or no need for glasses or contact lenses.
Many patients over age 40 come to us seeking help so they can see up close. The problem they are having is an expected aging condition called presbyopia. Lay terms for presbyopia are age-related farsightedness or over-40 vision. Regardless if one is nearsighted, farsighted or has perfect vision for distance some time after age 40 everyone will develop presbyopia. Presbyopia occurs when the lens we are born with inside the eye loses its ability to change shape and focus near objects.
Presbyopia will affect everyone over age 40. It typically affects farsighted people sooner than nearsighted people. The effects are progressive from the age of 40 to 65, but often stabilize as we get older. In everyday life presbyopia affects reading, computer work, looking at your phone, menus or anything that might be held at arms length. To combat the effects of presbyopia the first thing a patient will do is push things further away to read. We sometimes refer to this as “long arm” syndrome. But at some point, holding things at arm length is not sustainable and you may want other reliable treatment options, such as vision correction surgery.
Symptoms of Presbyopia:
The good news is that all of these symptoms can be resolved with glasses, contact lenses or with surgical options for presbyopia.
For many years patients have longed for a good surgical treatment for presbyopia. Presbyopia treatments can range from glasses and contact lenses to surgery for presbyopia. At Discover Vision Centers we provide several types of presbyopia correction surgery. Corneal laser procedures in the form of LASIK, PRK and SMILE can be used to create monovision, where one eye can see up close, and the other for distance. This approach is not necessarily a cure but a strategy to allow a patient to function at more than one distance without having to wear glasses. On the other hand, replacement of the natural lens with an intraocular lens implant can also be an effective method to treat the presbyopic condition.
The lens is a small, nearly spherical part that sits inside the eye and helps to focus the light coming in. When you are younger, the lens has the ability to change shape easily. Tiny muscles contract and relax to control changes in the shape of the young lens, and this flexibility allows your eyes to focus over a broad range of distances. As we enter middle age, just as we also begin to notice the subtle aches and pains of aging in our bodies, the eye’s natural lens becomes thicker and begins to lose its flexibility, resulting in vision problems.
Presbyopia or the ‘aging eye‘ is a natural condition as we age where near vision task become more difficult. It starts about age 40, progresses in severity to age 65 and then remains stationary. The natural lens that sits behind the colored part of the eye called the iris loses it’s flexibility, becomes rigid, and no longer allows for objects within arms length to be focus. So, reading, viewing a smart phone or computer screen becomes limited if not impossible. Patients frequently complain of eye strain, headache, blurring, and fatigue quickly.
If you have aging eyes and have been diagnosed with presbyopia an eye examination and evaluation for presbyopia correcting surgery is the next step. Your eye health, general health and vision demands or requirements need to be assessed to make sure you are a suitable candidate for presbyopia laser vision correction. With this information you and your surgeon can determine the best customized presbyopia solution for your unique visual needs.
Surgical correction for presbyopia is generally not covered by insurance. Laser vision correction options such as SMILE, LASIK and PRK are considered cosmetic and deemed as an out of pocket expense to patients having these procedures. Having a lens replacement surgery due to cataracts is an approved procedure by medical insurances and standard lens implants are included. Patients are still responsible for any deductibles or co payments. However, presbyopia correcting lens implants are not considered to be medically necessary. Again, the patient can pay the amount not covered by your insurance to obtain the upgraded lens implants.
If you are experiencing age-related presbyopia Discover Vision Centers has over 50 years of experience in helping patients overcome their complaints. With state-of-the-art techniques the surgical solutions have never been better.
Dr. John Doane has been providing presbyopia solutions for patients in Kansas City for over two decades. He is nationally and internationally known for his commitment to education and research on presbyopic and refractive surgery techniques.
Dr. Randy Jackson is a board certified ophthalmologist who specializes in refractive surgery, including LASIK Laser Vision Correction, Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), Full Focus® Vision Correction and cataract surgery.
Presbyopia will affect 100% of people as we reach our 40’s and 50’s. Those with good distance vision will begin to need reading glasses. Current eyeglass wearers will require a bifocal for near vision or nearsighted people can take the glasses off to see at near, but in one fashion or another all will be impacted.
With presbyopia, the crystal clear near vision we once had starts to become blurry as we reach the age of 40. The loss of our natural focusing ability can be difficult and requires some adjustment. Taking glasses on or off may be convenient for some but not enough of a solution for others. Bifocals or reading glasses will have an adaptation period as you get used to them. Surgical options provide the ability to see at a range of distances without relying on reading glasses. Learning to live with presbyopia happens to all of us as we age. But the true question is, how do you want to solve for it? What makes the most sense for your particular condition and lifestyle?
Medical insurance considers presbyopia a refractive condition, similar to being nearsighted or farsighted. Therefore, surgical solutions for presbyopia are not covered by most insurance because it is considered cosmetic. Depending on your vision insurance, some may have allowances for non-surgical solutions such as bifocals or contact lenses.
Presbyopia by itself will not lead to blindness. There are, however, eye conditions or diseases that can which is why it is always important to have regular eye exams to monitor and determine the health of the eye.
