LASIK and The Options For Presbyopia

Many medical conditions are associated with aging. Just as your bones and joints show wear and tear or aging signs as you start to age, so will your eyes. Presbyopia is one of the most common aging-related problems that affect the eyes. The word Presbyopia literally translates to “old person” in Greek. The condition is characterized by the eye’s inability to focus on both near and far objects.

Speculators and theorists alike suggest many causes of Presbyopia, yet no certain explanation can explain the condition’s cause. Research however not so long ago indicated that the condition Presbyopia may be caused from a loss of elasticity in the crystalline lens while other experts think it is actually changes in the curvature of the lens from continued growth and loss of strength in the Ciliary muscles, which the weakness hinders the eye’s ability to help the lens to hold its shape.

Naturally, aging causes various eye conditions to develop for many people. Some people believe that those who are at risk of Presbyopia do not have preventive tactics they can use to slow or stop the aging disease. This is not true. (Learn about exercise and healthy eating to reduce risks of all diseases)

LASIK comes with risks and benefits and any patient should learn about these benefits and risks before going to surgery. Some of the patients (With hidden symptoms of Presbyopia) who have had LASIK surgery had experienced vision problems to the point their vision began to deteriorate.

While there is no sure cure for Presbyopia, doctors will use standard eye corrective treatment to help correct the eye problems. Eyewear is commonly used, which doctors will recommend reading glasses for those with mild cases of Presbyopia, and will recommend bifocals or progressive lens for those with more serious case of Presbyopia. Reading glasses are used as sort of magnifying glasses to help a person read smaller print. Progressive lens and bifocals are used to treat certain Presbyopia conditions, which the doctor must provide two different prescriptions. One of the prescriptions is used to treat nearsightedness while the other prescription treats farsightedness. The doctor will clearly separate the prescriptions for bifocal lens, while the progressive lens are prescribed and tend to blend with the other.

Thanks to advances in eyewear, people with Presbyopia can also choose three types of contacts. Now patients have a choice of monovision contact lenses, bifocal contact lenses, and multifocal contact lenses. Monovision lenses, as their name suggests, targets one eye at a time. In other words, the dominant eye lens is adjusted so the patient can see at greater distance while the non-dominant eye lens is used for near or close vision.

Initially, patients who are prescribed monovision lens may find it difficult at first to wear the lens. In many instances doctors will need to adjust the lens to fit the patient’s needs. The eyes and the brain must also adjust to the lens however.

Bifocal contact lenses work in a similar ways to bifocal glasses. The doctor will give the patient two different prescriptions. Two different prescriptions are also given to patients who are prescribed multifocal lens. The lens gives the eye the ability to see at multiple focus points while viewing near or far objects.

LASIK surgery has provided great results for millions of patients. As the procedure improves or advances, there are now methods available for patients with conditions like myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Unfortunately, traditional LASIK is still not a good option for patients diagnosed with Presbyopia.

What puts a Presbyopia patient at risk of LASIK is the fact that because the symptoms are often hidden, doctors usually do not diagnose the patient in time. This means the patient may seek corrective eye care from LASIK and not even know they have Presbyopia.

Because of the commonness of the disorder, much research is being done on Presbyopia, and surgeons are looking for alternative treatments. Some options are already available. Today, some surgeons are combining Conductive Keratoplasty and LASIK Monovision to correct near and distant vision problems in two separate operations. Doctors also consider Presbyopia Reversal with Sclera Expansion bands, Laser Presbyopia Reversal, and Anterior Ciliary Sclerotomy to correct eye problems. Surgeries such as Crystalens, ReZoom Multifocal Intraocular Lenses, and ReSTOR intraocular lenses replace LASIK surgery and are often used to enhance the eye’s lens by using Crystalens.

At this time there is no known LASIK procedure capable of repairing damaged caused from Presbyopia. Sciences however are working hard each day to find other alternatives for Presbyopia patients.