Study suggests education causes myopia

What is Presbyopia?

The definition of  presbyopia is when your eyes gradually lose the ability to see things clearly up close. This condition is a normal part of aging, and in fact the Greek word “presbyopia” means “old eye”. Many people notice the symptoms of presbyopia shortly after turning 40; one of the most common symptoms is that people need to hold reading materials farther away in order to see them clearly. There is no way to stop or reverse the normal aging process that causes presbyopia.

Presbyopia treatments:

1. Reading glasses

When presbyopia is the only vision problem (no nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism), glasses may be the only solution that is necessary. Reading glasses help correct close-up vision problems because they bend light before it enters the eye.

2. Bifocals, trifocals or progressive lenses

People who already wear eyeglasses for other vision problems may need to move to bifocals, trifocals or progressive lenses.

• BIFOCALS correct for close-up and far vision. A line which is usually invisible divides the lens so the bottom refracts light for close-up vision and the top allows people to see distant objects.
• TRIFOCALS have three areas within the lens that correct for close-up, mid-range and far vision.
• PROGRESSIVE LENSES work like bifocals and trifocals but change gradually in strength from the top of the lens to the bottom.

3. Contact lenses

There are two types of contact lenses that can help people with presbyopia:

• MONOVISION CONTACTS These contacts correct one eye for distance and the other eye for close-up vision. Patients need to adapt to the lenses, but most are delighted with the benefits.
• MULTFOCAL CONTACTS These lenses have several zones set at different powers so the wearer is actually using both near and far vision at the same time. Your brain automatically learns to select the right focus for what you want to see.

4. Refractive surgery

Many people opt to have surgery to achieve monovision. This can reduce the need for glasses for near and far objects. Using a laser, the ophthalmologist reshapes the cornea for far vision in one eye and close-up vision in the other eye which results in a similar effect to someone who wears monovision contact lenses.

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