LASIK and Presbyopia
Vision issues, even when properly corrected with eyeglasses or contacts, can be an annoyance to deal with. LASIK surgery is a common surgery undertaken to improve vision and reduce the need for corrective glasses. At Trusted LASIK Surgeons™, our LASIK Surgeon Directory
can help connect you with surgeons in your local area who can assist in eyecare goals and LASIK surgery and associated recovery. However, before consulting our LASIK Surgeon Directory, it is important to know how the procedure can help you.
Presbyopia
As you age, Presbyopia become a concern for your vision. Presbyopia is the loss of reading small print up close is due to the lenses in your eyes hardening as you age.
This typically occurs due to aging, but when presbyopia occurs can vary from person to person. Some experience this vision problem in their 40s, while others may not experience this sight issue until their 60s. As an age-related issue, it is often unavoidable.
Can LASIK Help with Presbyopia?
LASIK is an effective treatment method for eyesight issues such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. However, for presbyopia, LASIK is usually not be the best solution for this issue.
LASIK in general corrects vision for one distance, such as near or far, depending on your needs.
With presbyopia, you may have issues with both your near and far sight. Since LASIK focuses on reshaping your cornea and presbyopia is a condition of the lens of in your eye, LASIK cannot prevent this as presbyopia is caused by aging.
In some cases, LASIK can provide distance correction for both nearsightedness and farsightedness at the same time by using a process known as monovision. This type of treatment corrects your dominant eye to have improved far-sight, while the other eye is corrected for improved near-sight.
Surgical Treatments for Presbyopia
In addition to monovision laser vision correction procedures, there are other methods to deal with Presbyopia you can use while also taking advantage of LASIK's ability to correct common corrective vision issues.
Options for treating presbyopia through vision correction surgery encompass several procedures, including the Kamra Inlay Procedure, Conductive Keratoplasty (CK), and monovision LASIK and PRK. The Kamra Inlay Procedure and Conductive Keratoplasty are the only FDA-approved treatments for correcting presbyopia in emmetropic eyes—those with normal vision except for reading glasses.
While these eye surgery procedures cannot cure presbyopia, they offer effective ways to reduce the dependence on reading glasses for everyday activities such as reading a menu or using a cell phone. Individuals considering these procedures should undergo a thorough examination and consultation with an eye care professional to determine the most suitable option for their needs.
Kamra Inlay Procedure. The Kamra Inlay Procedure, also known as Corneal Inlay Procedure or "Pinhole Technology," is ideal for individuals with distance vision who wish to eliminate the constant reliance on reading or bifocal glasses or contact lenses. During this FDA-approved procedure, a tiny device is implanted on the cornea towards the center of the eye. Approved in 2018, the Kamra Inlay can significantly reduce the need for reading glasses in daily activities. For more information, refer to our Kamra Inlay Surgery discussion page.
Monovision LASIK or PRK. Monovision LASIK or PRK, utilizing "monovision" or "blended vision," addresses presbyopia by focusing one eye for reading and the other for distance. While not FDA-approved for this specific purpose, PRK is often used "off label" with FDA-approved lasers. This option is suitable for patients over 40 seeking laser vision surgery for nearsightedness or URL for Hy: perlink farsightedness. Patients with excellent natural distance vision (Emmetropia) may also choose this option to read without glasses. To learn more, please visit our LASIK and PRK discussion pages.
Conductive Keratoplasty (CK). Conductive Keratoplasty involves applying radio-frequency energy to eight spots in the cornea to refocus one eye for reading. CK results in a milder form of monovision compared to laser procedures, making it more tolerable for some patients. The CK eye is typically less blurred for distance, enhancing patient comfort. However, it's essential for patients to experience mono or blended vision with contact lenses or glasses before opting for this procedure. To learn more, please visit our Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) for discussion.
Non-Surgical Treatments for Presbyopia
Non-Surgical Treatments
Reading Glasses. Reading glasses and other types of corrective lenses can be used to adjust your sight when presbyopia is the root issue of your blurry vision.
Vuity- Presbyopia Eyedrops. In October 2021, the FDA approved Vuity, . Eyedrops for presbyopia aim to address the age-related decline in near vision by providing a pharmacological solution. These drops typically contain medications that work to temporarily alter the pupil size and improve the eye's ability to focus on close objects. While these eyedrops offer a non-invasive alternative to surgical procedures for presbyopia, their effectiveness can vary among individuals, and users may experience side effects such as blurred vision or sensitivity to light. Ongoing research and development in this field strive to refine and expand the range of presbyopia-correcting eyedrops, offering individuals more options to manage this common age-related vision condition. To learn more about the presbyopia eyedrops, please visit the Vuity website.
Finding an Expert Eye Doctor to Treat Presbyopia
Laser eye surgery may not always be the best option so it is important to find a highly qualified vision correction surgeon like those featured in our Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ Directory for, most of whom perform a variety of refractive surgery treatments to give patients a more complete range of options.
To find a vision correction expert surgeon who has qualified to be listed at Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ nearest to you, please visit:
Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ Directory
Trusted Cataract Surgeons™ Directory
The screening process and standards used by Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ can be found at:
How Are Lasik and Cataract Surgeons Qualified at Trusted LASIK Surgeons™?