Age-related hyperopia (presbyopia)
Sjónlag has long offered a laser procedure that can correct for both near and far vision and age-related hyperopia. Now we have also begun using a new technology, FemtoLASIK technology to make reading glasses unnecessary. This method is called PresbyMax and has been developed in recent years and achieved considerable popularity abroad.
What is presbyopia?
With age comes decreased capability eyes natural lens to change shape (like a camera with auto "focus"). As we age this causes the lens to harden and becomes like a camera with a fixed ‘‘focus‘‘. This reduces the ability to to focus on objects that are close to us and in the process decreases your ability to read clearly. The disorder occurs in any age but most commonly symptoms appear around the age of forty. The initial symptom is relieved by adjusting the distance (eg moving a book away) to see clearly, but eventually that no longer corrects the problem. What to do?
Reading Glasses
Those who have not previously had to wear glasses can use reading glasses. For some it is sufficient to buy cheap reading glasses to read but in order to achieve the best possible vision, it is often need to have a prescription measured by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.
Bifocal Lenses
Those who have previously had to wear glasses due to refractive errors (such as myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism) often prefer to be able to look off into the distance and read with the same glasses. Laminated glasses or so-called bifocal glasses (score-line change over the reading portion) are often successful corrections for both near and far.
Multi-focus lenses
Multi-focal lenses, or progressive lenses offer the ability to see forward, both near and at a distance, as people did before, with a single lens. They are designed to look effortless soft focus both far and near. It is not possible to restore the sight you had in your younger years, but this option suits some people very well.
It is best to come in, discuss and test this lens with an optometrist.
Multi-focus intraocular lens
Conventional intraocular lenses are focused at a single distance. This means that those who receive such artificial lenses gain clear vision in one distance, they usually still need help seeing up close. Most require the use of glasses with task like reading. Recently new artifical lenses have been developed that make individuals less dependent glasses, these are called multi-focal intraocular lenses. Studies show that approximately 8 out of 9 patients receiving these kinds of artificial lenses do not wear glasses. They are an exciting alternative to traditional artificial lens implants, for those with cloudy vision from cataracts and will be able to see the most without glasses, after lens surgery. They are a more attractive option for those who are tired of glasses and want to be able to see both the near and far.
Monovision
Some contact lens users familiar with using a contact lens in one eye only, to see at a distance. They use the other eye to look at intermeidate distance and to read, etc. Often is the dominant eye (the eye we use more, such as to shoot the target) is corrected for distance and the other eye for close proximity. This is called monovision and suitable for many people but not all. Some people find it uncomfortable to switch in this way and see slurred images the recessive eye. A variant of this is called partial mono vision, but the dominant eye is corrected fully, then the other eye partially. In this case, the respective slightly slurred a distance recessive eye but can read larger fonts easily. This arrangement can delay using reading glasses for several years and is often a good compromise.