Reading Vision
If you are over the age of 40, chances are you’ve noticed a common phenomenon: presbyopia. People with presbyopia often find themselves holding their phones, books or restaurant menus at an arm’s length just to focus on the words. If you find that your drugstore reading glasses are looking more and more tempting lately, you aren’t alone. Millions of people are dealing with presbyopia as part of their daily lives.
What is Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is a common age-related vision problem. Unlike other refractive errors such as myopia and astigmatism, which are caused by irregular corneas, presbyopia is caused by problems with the lens. The lens is located behind your iris and pupil. This small, clear, flexible lens helps focus light onto the retina.
To see up close, the natural lens needs to flex to accommodate the close distance. Around age 40, this lens loses some of its flexibility and becomes more rigid. When the lens becomes rigid, it is no longer able to accommodate near vision.
Presbyopia is extremely common, and almost everyone will experience it once they hit middle age. It can be extremely frustrating, but luckily, you have more treatment options than ever.
Presbyopia Treatment
The most common form of presbyopia correction is through reading glasses. Reading glasses can be bought without a prescription and offer a quick, temporary fix. However, constantly reaching for your reading glasses every time you need to read something can be annoying. Not to mention, many people hate the way they look with reading glasses.
More permanent solutions to presbyopia are being researched every day and there are quite a few options available to you now. Surgical advancements have led us to amazing procedures like refractive lens exchange.
Refractive Lens Exchange
Sometimes, to fix something, you have to stop using quick fixes and get to the root of the problem. Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) allows us to do just that. During the RLE procedure, the presbyopic lens is removed and replaced with a superior lens that is crystal clear and flexible, allowing you to see up close.
At Pacific Eye Institute, we offer the TECNIS Symfony® Extended Range of Vision intraocular lens (IOL). The Symfony IOL is the only IOL approved to treat presbyopia. Invisible to the naked eye, your new lens is designed to look and act exactly like a healthy natural lens.
Stop reaching for your reading glasses every time you need to read a text message or order your food at a restaurant. It’s time to take back control. If you are interested in reducing or eliminating your need for reading glasses in the Inland Empire, contact Pacific Eye Institute today to schedule an eye exam.
