As we age our body begins to experience physical changes, both physiognomically and physiologically, among them, loss of visual acuity. One of the common eye disorders after the 40s is Presbyopia. It can be easily diagnosed with a routine eye exam that includes a refraction assessment and eye health evaluation.
What is Presbyopia?
It’s an age-related refractive error in which the eye gradually loses the ability to focus nearby objects, due to the lack of elasticity of the crystalline (eye natural lens), and ciliary muscle weakening. It progresses until the age of 65 when it stabilizes.
Symptoms
At 40, or earlier, you may notice some of these signs and symptoms:
- Blurred vision at close-up distance
- Headaches after reading
- Difficulty to read small prints
- Visual fatigue
- The need of brighter lights to read
Who can develop presbyopia?
As we have previously mentioned, presbyopia is an age-related condition. 80% of the population 40 and over are affected by presbyopia. Some studies have shown higher prevalence among women than men, and in some cases, it appears prematurely. The risk factors for early presbyopia include diseases like: hyperopia, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. And the use of certain drugs such as antidepressants, diuretics and antiallergics.
How to correct presbyopia
Unfortunately, presbyopia is an age-related refractive error that can´t be prevented, reversed or delayed permanently with any drugs or eye drops. The only proven treatments and methods to improve, or restore vision, are corrective glasses and RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange) surgery.
Corrective Glasses:
It’s the most common method to correct presbyopia. There are 2 types of corrective lenses: bifocals, have both correction for distance vision, near and far; multifocals or progressives, accommodate multiple prescriptions in a single lens to see comfortably at different distances; and monofocals lenses (single-vision) with one prescription mostly for reading.
Surgery
RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange), It’s a safe, effective, and permanent procedure to correct presbyopia, in which the hardened crystalline (eye natural lens) is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Corrective intraocular lenses can be progressive or multifocals, depending on the patient’s visual needs and lifestyle. This type of surgery also corrects other refractive errors and prevents cataracts. RLE may benefit you in a number of potentially life-changing ways.
When to visit the ophthalmologist
If you´re 40 years or older, and experience one or more of the following symptoms, we suggest you to visit the ophthalmologist to get a full eye exam:
- Blurry close-up vision that comes and goes
- Sudden painful, or painless, vision loss in one or both eyes.
- Have permanent blurry vision
- See halos around the lights, black dots
- Double vision, or poor vision.
If you think you might be developing Presbyopia, book your appointment through WhatsApp at +57 304 628 7572, by clicking the icon on the bottom right corner of your screen.
