Electronic Focusing Eyewear
Tackling Presbyopia
Visit your Oak lawn, IL Optometrist to Learn More About Treatment Options
Many adults at some point begin to notice signs of presbyopia or a diminished ability to focus on things at a close range, as they get older. With the growing worldwide population reaching older ages, more and more people are developing the condition, which currently cannot be avoided.
The lenses of your eye bend to focus on objects at varying distances. Some believe that with age, that elasticity diminishes since the natural lenses thicken. This phenomenon is called presbyopia and is often noticed by blurred vision when reading or seeing objects right before your eyes. This often begins to take place around someone turns forty. Those with the condition often cope with the situation by holding a book away from their eyes or standing away from the object they are looking at. Shifting from looking at far off things to closer ones is often tiring for people with presbyopia. The stress can add to one's discomfort by causing headaches, eye strain or fatigue.
The most common solutions for correcting presbyopia are bifocals or progressive addition lenses (PALs). Bifocal lenses are divided into two points of focus, one is for seeing objects from a distance and a second, lower portion for focusing on objects nearby. Progressive lenses work similarly to bifocal lenses, but they offer a more subtle transition between the separate prescriptions. Wearers can more easily adjust their focus, as they would if they had standard vision. Another option is reading glasses which, unlike bifocals or PALs which are worn all day, are used only as needed.
If contact lenses are preferred over eyeglasses, there are other options such as multifocal lenses. It may take some time to come up with the best method and type of contacts because different lenses can cause discomfort or blurriness.
There are also options for other procedures including surgery available that may be worth discussing with your optometrist. A significant number of patients find the most success by using a combination of treatments for presbyopia. Additionally, since your vision will continue to deteriorate as you get older, you will probably be required to continually adjust the strength of your correction. The positive news is, there is a significant amount of research being done to identify more and perhaps more permanent solutions for patients with presbyopia.
Seeing symptoms of presbyopia? Book a check up with your Oak lawn, IL optometrist. A return to normal eyesight is just a phone call away!