Understanding Presbyopia

San Francisco, Oakland & San Jose, California

Aging and your eyes

As you grow older, you will inevitably experience difficulty reading. Think back to when you were young and your near-sighted vision was extremely good. A 12-year-old can hold a small object just inches from their eyes and see it clearly. By age 30, that object or print usually has to be about six inches away to be seen clearly. By age 40, it is often impossible to read comfortably 12 to 16 inches from your face. People in their 40s start to use reading glasses in order to partake in activities that require close vision.

The condition

As you age the lens inside your eye begins to change, and is no longer able to focus as well on images up close. This condition is called presbyopia or "reading glasses syndrome." Some symptoms include:

• Eye fatigue when reading in poor light
• Eye fatigue at the end of the day
• Difficulty changing focus from far to near
• The need to constantly reposition reading material in an effort to find the right focus

Like a camera

Your eye’s lens "accommodates" or changes shape to enable you to see at near distances. This is exactly the same process that occurs when focusing your camera on a near object. With presbyopia, light from a close object enters your eye, your cornea refracts the light, and your lens changes shape to accommodate for the decreased focal length of a near object. This loss of elasticity in your lens becomes apparent when your near-vision begins to blur. This condition affects everyone regardless of whether or not you have ever worn glasses.

Corrective options

Once you have been diagnosed with presbyopia, your eye doctor will often prescribe a multi-focal lens to improve your distant and near vision. There are many different styles of multi-focal lenses available including:

• Lined bifocals
• Lined trifocals
• No-line progressive lenses

There are also contact lenses available to help those suffering from presbyopia to see clearly. An annual eye exam is the best way to help diagnose this condition early so that you can begin treatment.

In today’s technological age, those suffering from presbyopia can also find relief with corrective vision surgery. LASIK, LASEK, or PRK and a technique called monovision can correct poor eyesight.

Presbyopic vision can also be corrected with non-laser procedures like CK (conductive keratoplasty) and refractive lens exchange. These techniques help reduce your reliance on glasses or contacts and help you regain your eyesight, and your freedom.

Serving the residents of San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, Dr. Gary Kawesch and his team of experienced optometrists and friendly staff can help you see clearly once again. If you are interested in correcting your vision once and for all, please contact our office today.

408.984.1010