Can LASIK Treat Presbyopia?

Presbyopia, otherwise known as age related farsightedness, is a condition where you gradually lose your ability to focus on objects up close. This leads to a number of everyday hassles, such as not being able to read the menu at a restaurant or your text messages, and having to put on and take off reading glasses all day long. Every man and woman over a certain age probably knows the frustration of searching for a pair of reading glasses just to be able to view a single text message or photo on their cell phone.

A common question our Sacramento eye surgeon Dr. Wilmarth is asked is whether or not LASIK can treat presbyopia. The answer is usually yes, but a special type of LASIK must be used. The normal LASIK surgery used to treat regular nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism won't work for presbyopia.

Monovision LASIK For Presbyopia

Presbyopia occurs when the lens of the eye gradually loses its flexibility and ability to focus on nearby objects. This is a result of the natural aging process, and happens to almost everyone. Presbyopia generally begins to occur after the age of 40, and over the years you will start to notice that reading and other close work is becoming more difficult due to blurriness.

Monovision LASIK is a special process that corrects for near vision in one eye and distance vision in the other. This allows the eyes to work in tandem to focus on both near and far objects. Although some distance vision is lost with monovision LASIK, most patients find that it is a worthwhile trade-off.

Who Is A Candidate for Monovision LASIK?

Generally, the best candidates for monovision LASIK include those who:

• Are over the age of 40 and have presbyopia that requires reading glasses

• Are in good general health

• Are able to adjust to monovision

• Are okay with losing some distance vision

Some people may find it difficult to adjust to monovision. If you are concerned about what it will be like, you can do a "trial run" using monovision contacts before committing to LASIK. However, most people have no trouble adjusting, and find that their lives are improved after surgery.

If distance vision is more important to you than near vision, monovision LASIK may not be the right choice. Distance vision can still be corrected with regular LASIK even if you have presbyopia, so if you want great distance vision and are fine with wearing reading glasses, regular LASIK may be a good choice for you.

Schedule Your Monovision LASIK Consultation

If you are interested in ditching your reading glasses and achieving better near vision while still retaining adequate distance vision, contact Wilmarth Eye today at 916-507-1707 to schedule your free LASIK consultation.

We serve patients in Roseville, Rocklin, Folsom, and other areas of greater Sacramento, California.