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Presbyopia – loss of Near Vision from aging
Presbyopia is the gradual loss of up-close reading vision as we age. For patients not wearing glasses for distance, they now need reading glasses to see close. For those who use glasses for distance, they will now need to wear a bifocal, trifocal or progressive glasses.
Patients who are nearsighted (myopia) can see will up close without glasses, but not far away. Most people who are near sighted wear bifocals (or progressives) so they don’t have to keep taking their glasses on and off.
Losing our ability to see up close is inevitable. It is an undeniable sign of aging which we naturally resist admitting to. With presbyopia we are in essence becoming near blind. It generally starts in our early 40’s. Once you have accepted this reality then there is an exploration of options.
Traditional options for presbyopia have included:
- Initially holding things farther and farther away or using brighter and brighter lights.
- Using reading glasses (cheaters), bifocals, trifocals or progressive
- Using monovision or multifocal contact lenses.
- Having monovision laser vison correction.
- Surgical procedures involving corneal inlays. We are not a fan of this procedure.
A significant number of patients do not like monovision, especially if they don’t have a need to wear glasses for distance. Until now this has meant the solution to help one maintain independence from reading glasses has been disappointing for many patients.
A new solution that may help many patients in the very near future are eye drops which help increase the natural accommodation of the eye. This allows for an increased ability to focus up close.
Drops for presbyopia that help focus up close are now FDA approved. These drops have a long history of safe usage in other eye conditions. The name of the drop is Vuity from Allergan Pharmaceuticals.
The drop takes effect in about 15 minutes after applying and can last up to six hours.
Our doctors at InVision are presbyopia specialists with decades of experience in this aging disorder.
Call our office for an evaluation to see if you are a good candidate for near vision enhancing eye drops.