Do You Need Bifocals? Laser Eye Surgery Could Help
So, you’ve found yourself in need of bifocal glasses or contact lenses. This can undoubtedly be a bit of a shock, especially if you’ve enjoyed good vision up to now. Unfortunately, deteriorating vision – and the pains and annoyances that go with it – is something that the vast majority of people have to look forward to.
As we get older, the natural, crystalline lenses in our eyes begin to stiffen, becoming less flexible. At the same time, the muscles that control the focusing power of our eyes also begin to weaken. While this is a completely normal part of the eye’s ageing process, it can cause significant disruption to our vision – particularly our near vision.
As a result, most people will eventually require correction to perform close-up tasks such as reading. This process is known as presbyopia (ageing eyes). Most people will begin to notice the effects of presbyopia in their 40s and 50s. Common tell-tale signs that you are developing this age-related refractive error include to hold books or newspapers further and further away in order to distinguish the letters on the page.
For those who also have refractive errors that affect their distance vision, two types of correction become necessary. Which is where bifocal lenses come in. But what are bifocals, when are they needed, and is there a better option?
What are Bifocals?
Bifocal lenses have been used alongside glasses frames for hundreds of years and remain incredibly common today – and with good reason. They were the first kind of glasses lens to be able to correct both distance and near vision, essentially combining two lenses in one setting: Traditionally, the top half of the lens would correct distance vision while the bottom half facilitates reading vision.
However, the kinds of lenses combined in bifocals can differ. Moreover, as contact lenses became increasingly popular in the mid-to-late 20th century, another option for bifocal correction became available.
Find out more about bifocal lenses
Escaping Bifocals with Laser Eye Surgery
Bifocal lenses have offered an effective solution for multiple correction for hundreds of years. But while they might be effective, they’re not always convenient. So, is there a better way?
Well, to put it simply: Yes!
Today, Laser Eye Surgery can effectively treat a wider range of patients and prescriptions than ever before – even if you rely on bifocals (or varifocals!). For most patients we see, this means they are able to ditch their pesky glasses for years to come. But this isn’t the case at all clinics.
At London Vision Clinic, we have been pioneering new Laser Eye Surgery techniques for over 20 years, including ReLEx SMILE and PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision. As a result, we are often able to treat individuals who have been turned away by other clinics – including those who rely on bifocals.
PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision
For many years, it was widely accepted that Laser Eye Surgery couldn’t treat presbyopia. But our founder and expert laser eye surgeon, Professor Dan Reinstein, didn’t believe this was the case. So, in 2004, he pioneered a new kind of Laser Eye Surgery treatment that would allow patients with presbyopia to see clearly at far, intermediate, and near distances.
PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision works by correcting each of the patient’s eyes in a different way. While one eye is corrected mainly for near with a little distance, the other eye is corrected mostly for distance with a little near. The brain is then able to combine these images to create a “blend zone” – a more tolerable approach to the alternative monovision treatment.
As a result, the majority of patients we see are suitable for this method of correction.
In the video above, we meet Margaret, a presbyopic patient, who had PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision with Professor Dan Reinstein.
We treat various eye conditions at the London Vision Clinic. Browse the following list of common eye problems for more information on how we can treat them:
For more information about how we could help you ditch your varifocal lenses, get in touch with one of our friendly patient care coordinators or Book a Consultation today!
