April Is Presbyopia Awareness Month

April is Presbyopia Awareness Month and that means a chance to shine a light on this extremely common, but extremely inconvenient, condition that will affect everyone at some point in their lives! Starting around age 40, most people notice that their vision starts to change. It may start subtly at first: small, fine print becomes more blurry and you find yourself holding reading materials further away to get clarity. While frustrating, this is a normal, natural part of our body’s aging process. When we are young, the lens of the eye is flexible; it can easily adjust to accommodate seeing at near, middle, and far distances. However, as we age, the lens in the eye becomes thicker and harder, losing some of the flexibility it once had. As a result, more effort is required to shift focused vision from near to far. This loss of flexibility can make it difficult to focus on close distances, like reading small print and doing close-up activities like drawing or sewing. This difficulty focusing at close range is known as presbyopia. If you notice small print becoming blurry, you find yourself needing to hold items further away to focus when reading, or you have difficulty seeing in dim light, you may be experiencing presbyopia.

One of the ways most people combat these age-related vision difficulties is by wearing reading glasses. Readers are typically purchased over-the-counter or by prescription from a qualified eye-care professional. Reading glasses function as magnification lenses by increasing the size of the print and allowing wearers to see more clearly. However, being dependent on readers can be frustrating and inconvenient. It can also be difficult to find the best magnification, and the required magnification, or power, can increase over time, resulting in frustration and financial strain. Fortunately, with the latest advancements in technology, there are several options for patients who wish to maximize the clarity of their vision while minimizing their dependence on corrective lenses.

To help with the functional concerns associated with aging eyes, Dr. Alison R. Tendler, ophthalmologist and owner of ART Vision in Sioux Falls, SD offers several options that can minimize the need for reading glasses on a consistent basis. While many people who hear “vision correction” or “refractive surgery” think only of LASIK or PRK, there are other options. Below we discuss Lens Based Refractive Surgery (or LBRS) methods, some which you may not have heard of before.

●     A refractive lens exchange (RLE) involves the removal of the eye’s natural lens and replacement with an intraocular lens (IOL) implant. This is a great option for patients with nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia (difficulty with reading or near vision) who wish to optimize their vision long-term. The process of an RLE is very similar to the removal of a cataract, but is done to optimize vision and decrease your dependence on glasses or contacts. This procedure is best for patients who are over the age of 50, have not developed a cataract or have minimal cataract development, desire clearer vision, and are seeking to gain independence from corrective lenses at multiple distances.

●     A similar option exists for patients who have already begun to develop a cataract, but would still like to optimize their vision and minimize dependence on their glasses. This is known as refractive cataract surgery. Similar to an RLE, the lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens that is specified to your individual prescription needs to give you the clearest possible vision.

These options are brief, outpatient surgical procedures performed by Dr. Tendler that take place in the comfort of the office-based surgical suites at ART Vision.

With these safe, quick, and effective vision correction procedures, Dr. Tendler can help you not only optimize your vision, but optimize your quality of life for years to come. Contact the team at ART Vision to schedule a consultation today to determine if you are a candidate for one of the many vision correction procedures available, so you can See the World Better and See Yourself Better.