The two most common approaches to presbyopia correction, management of diminished eyesight associated with aging, are surgery and corrective lenses. Sometimes, eye exercises may be recommended to retain visual acuity, but a number of clinical trials and scientific studies have failed to demonstrate the efficacy of such exercises, making them a dubious approach to presbyopia treatment. Patients can consult an ophthalmologist or optometrist to get advice and information on addressing changes to the vision as they occur.
In presbyopia, the eyesight grows worse with age. A number of theories to explain this phenomenon have been developed, but they all boil down to the gradual breaking down of the body that occurs after years of use. In people with existing vision problems, presbyopia can make those problems worse, or can complicate them. These patients are usually under the care of a physician specializing in management of visual impairments, and they typically receive prompt presbyopia correction as their vision degrades with age.
A simple option for presbyopia correction is corrective lenses. Many people with mild visual impairments can buy corrective lenses over the counter and use those for tasks like reading and focusing on fine, detailed tasks like quilting or assembling models. If basic lenses do not resolve the issue, patients can go to a doctor to get a more precise prescription. As the eyes grow worse over time, the need for new glasses can be evaluated and the older lenses can be replaced as needed.
People with existing vision problems may need to consider bifocal or trifocal lenses to manage presbyopia while also correcting underlying visual impairments. These lenses require prescriptions and patients may need to spend some time adapting to them. Some people find that they get nauseous or disoriented when first wearing bifocals, for example.
Vision surgery is another option for presbyopia correction. This is usually done with a laser and involves an ophthalmological surgeon. The doctor will evaluate the patient to determine the extent of visual impairment and to see if the patient is a good candidate for surgery. If this is the case, a surgery can be performed to reshape the lens and correct the patient's vision. Corrective lenses will not be needed, although future vision degradation can still occur and this is something to consider when thinking about surgery as a possible option for presbyopia correction. Risks of surgery can include infections, damage to the eyes, or a failure to correct the problem, leading to the need to wear glasses after surgery.
