I need reading glasses
Do you know your refractive error?
I wear reading glasses
Objects appear blurred close-up.
Presbyopia
Due to the increasing loss of flexibility of the lens, as well as other biomechanical changes in the eye, light rays cannot be collected at the focal point of the retina. Therefore objects appear blurred.
Young eye:
Lens focuses sharply
Aging eye:
Lens can no longer focus
What is presbyopia?
Understanding Presbyopia
Presbyopia is the natural, age-related decline in accomodation that usually occurs after the age of 40. Similar to the camera lens, the cornea and lens of the human eye focus light rays in a focal point on the retina, creating a sharp image that is transmitted to the brain. The shape of the eye lens can be adjusted to focus on objects at different distances. However, with age, the lens loses flexibility and thus the ability to adapt its shape and focus. As a result, it becomes difficult to see clear at all distances, which may require wearing reading glasses or contact lenses.
Which treatment methods are possible?
Presbyopia is basically correctable, hardly anyone has to live with glasses or contact lenses. The basis of a decision is always the medical results of our particularly detailed preliminary examination and a thorough consultation. In many cases, presbyopia can be successfully corrected fast and painless for many years with laser eye treatment. With the innovative ZEISS “Laser Blended Vision / PRESBYOND” procedure, the AOZ Heidelberg exclusively offers an advanced laser eye correction method that can compensate for some symptoms of presbyopia. Compared to conventional methods, it offers advantages, particularly regarding the individual adaptability of the treatment, sharp vision at all distance levels and the immediate success. However, with the implantation of multifocal lenses / trifocal lenses, alternative methods are also available.
Eye laser treatment | Indications |
|---|---|
Laser Blended Vision Presbyond | Myopia up to -8 diopters, hyperopia up to +2, astigmatism up to -2 |
Lens surgery | Indications |
|---|---|
Multifocal lenses / Trifocal lenses (refractive lens exchange) | All strengths |
Options at a glance
Glasses
For many spectacle wearers this solution can be satisfactory. However, many people find that their dependence on glasses in their daily lives interferes with their lifestyle.
Reading glasses are usually one of the first options patients with presbyopia consider. They are particularly suitable for people with normal eyesight who have not previously needed glasses or contact lenses. Reading glasses can help with near vision problems and usually need to be worn only for activities that require near vision, such as reading or sewing.
Bifocals offer two different focal points: one for distance vision and one for near vision. These glasses are a good option for short-sighted or far-sighted patients who already wear glasses.
Progressive glasses are similar to bifocals but offer a smoother transition from near to far vision.
Contact lenses
Contact lenses have some advantages over glasses, but they also require more care and are not well tolerated by some patients.
Multifocal contact lenses can offer a bifocal design with two different refractions – one for distance and one for near vision. Others are multifocal and work similarly to progressive glasses.
Monovision contact lenses optimize one eye for distance vision and the other for near vision. It takes some getting used to monovision and training the brain accordingly.
Surgical options
Please arrange a non-binding information appointment to find out which option is better suited for your individual needs.
Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are an option for patients who require cataract surgery or decide to have refractive lens exchange. This involves replacing the lens of the eye with an artificial lens that can potentially correct the symptoms of presbyopia.
Conventional monovision is used to correct one eye for distance vision and the other for near vision. The brain has to get used to seeing two images that are corrected for different distances.
Laser Blended Vision (PRESBYOND) also optimizes one eye primarily for distance vision, while the other is corrected for near vision. However, there is a significant difference to monovision: it is based on your binocular vision by individually adjusting the depth of field for each eye, resulting in a personalized fusion of the two images in the central area – the so-called blend zone. The Blend Zone contributes to faster adaptation and allows you to see sharply at intermediate distances.
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