Presbyopia (Ageing Eyes)

As we get older, our vision begins to deteriorate. Presbyopia is a natural part of the eye’s ageing process.

Many people are lucky enough to spend most of their lives without the restrictions of glasses and contact lenses. But while they may not have to worry about the effects of myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, almost everyone will eventually succumb to another refractive error – presbyopia (ageing eyes).

Most people will begin to notice the effects of presbyopia between the ages of 40 and 50.

As we get older, our eyes – like many other parts of our bodies – begin to deteriorate. The lens gradually becomes less flexible, which affects its ability to change shape and shift the eye’s focus from near to distance. Effectively, this means that the eye’s ‘zoom’ system becomes weaker.

This makes it increasingly difficult to read small print in books, menus, and receipts and to focus on other close-up tasks. Individuals with a pre-existing refractive error may also find that they require multiple visual aids for different distances, or that they require bifocal or varifocal lenses.

Reading glasses are the most common method for correcting presbyopia. In some cases, Clear Lens Exchange procedures (replacing the lens inside the eye with an artificial one) can also help. But Laser Eye Surgery can also help.

At London Vision, we have been correcting presbyopia since 2004 with PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision. This innovative procedure is less invasive and more safe than Clear LEns Exchange as the lens does not need to be removed.