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If you’ve found yourself struggling to see objects clearly when they’re near to you (a condition commonly referred to as farsightedness), you might very well be suffering from presbyopia, a condition that occurs in nearly all adults over the age of 45. This condition can have a frustrating impact on one’s quality of life, so we offer treatments like refractive lens exchange, which can help to correct vision impairments like those caused by presbyopia. Read on to learn more, and don’t hesitate to reach out and set up an in-person consultation today!

What Exactly is Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is a condition that occurs when age-related changes in the proteins in the natural lens of the eye make the lens more rigid and less flexible. Muscles that surround the lens may also lose their elasticity, further impairing your eyesight. 

As the lens becomes increasingly inflexible and unable to focus quite as effectively as it used to, the eye has a harder clearly perceiving objects that are nearby, which is one of the reasons middle-aged people often find themselves holding reading material farther away from their faces.

Middle aged man smiling at the camera, wearing glasses and a navy shirt.

Correcting Presbyopia with Refractive Lens Exchange

If you’ve found yourself struggling to clearly see things that are closer to you, you might be a great candidate for either a multifocal lens or precision monovision correction with a refractive lens exchange. Refractive lens exchange is a procedure by which your eye’s natural lens is replaced with an artificial one, enabling it to function properly and correcting any vision issues that might have arisen.

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Multi-Focal Intraocular Lens Options 

A multi-focal intraocular lens (IOL) is a prosthetic lens that helps corrects/prevent cataracts and helps to improve near, intermediate, and far-distance vision. Often, patients will undergo refractive lens exchange to have a multifocal intraocular lens placed before cataracts can occur.

There are several reasons why multi-focal intraocular lenses are an excellent option. They are designed with astigmatism correction, which means they offer the most extensive range of vision correction. The surface of the multi-focal lens contains concentric rings that allow the retina to focus on different distances. There are also different types of multi-focal intraocular lenses to best meet your lifestyle needs, including lenses made specifically for reading or computer work. 

Either refractive or diffractive multi-focal IOLs are available. How do you know which multi-focal intraocular lens is right for you? We will discuss your lifestyle to best determine the right choice for your needs. 

    How Does Monovision Correction Work?

    In monovision correction, one eye is corrected to see near objects, while the other eye is corrected to see distant objects through the use of a clear lens replacement, which replaces the eye’s natural lens with an artificial one. While this might sound a bit confusing at first, there is a minor adjustment period while the brain learns to sort out the visual system.

    In a week to 10 days, many people who receive monovision correction can see objects that are both near and distant without any trouble. Monovision replacement does compromise depth-perception, however, along with some other small compromises in your visual clarity, so the procedure is not always recommended for individuals with extremely precise or sensitive visual needs.

    The procedure is quite straightforward, and is performed on an outpatient basis, using local anesthetic. You’ll be able to return home as soon as the procedure is done, which only takes between five and seven minutes (per eye), and doesn’t involve any pain.

    Precision monovision can be achieved using advanced Light-Adjustable Lens, a new technology that allows the use of a light delivery device to re-shape the lens while it’s inside the eye and adjust the power of the lens as needed. This lens is placed like regular lenses, but can be changed if there are issues.

    What to Expect After Your Procedure

    • Some reddish vision after the procedure will resolve quite quickly, with blurred vision lasting for a few days.
    • You’ll be able to return to your day-to-day life just a few days after the procedure, though it’s typically recommended that you wait about a week before driving. Avoiding any strenuous activity is also recommended during the recovery period.
    • We’ll follow up with you after your procedure, to ensure that you’re healing properly, and will also thoroughly talk over aftercare instructions during the consultation that precedes the procedure.

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