Visit your Mesa, AZ Eye Doctor to Find Out About Treatment Options
Many adults eventually begin to notice signs of presbyopia or a reduced ability to focus on objects that are close, as they age. With the growing worldwide population reaching older ages, more and more people are developing the condition, which currently cannot be escaped.
Many believe that presbyopia is caused because the eyes' lenses will sometimes harden by age 40, making it more difficult for the eyes to focus on something, especially an object nearby. Those with presbyopia often manage with the situation by holding the paper away from their eyes or standing at a distance from the object they want to focus on. Transitions from looking at distant things to closer ones are often straining for people with presbyopia. The tension can add further discomfort resulting in headaches, eye strain or fatigue.
Most often bifocal lenses or progressives (PALs) are used to correct presbyopia. Bifocal lenses have two points of focus, the main part of the lens has a prescription for distance vision and the other part of the lens is for looking at objects that are close by. Progressive lenses are similar to bifocal lenses, but the transitions between the two prescriptions are more gradual. Users will more easily adjust focus, as they would having standard sight. Another option is reading glasses which, unlike bifocals or PALs which are worn continually, are used only as needed.
Presbyopes can also opt for multifocal contacts or monovision lens correction (in which one eye is prescribed a distance vision and the other near vision) to correct the condition. It may take a few tries to figure out the best use of contact lenses due to the fact that different prescriptions can cause discomfort or blurriness.
There are also options for other procedures including surgery available that may be worth discussing with your eye doctor. A lot of patients find the most success by using a combination of options for presbyopia. Furthermore, because your vision will continue to deteriorate with age, you will probably need to keep adjusting your prescription. The positive news is, there is a significant amount of experimental treatment on the market currently to identify additional and perhaps more permanent treatments for presbyopia.
If you are beginning to notice symptoms of presbyopia, call for a visit with your Mesa, AZ eye doctor. A return to normal eyesight can be yours!