As we get older our bodies age, from our skin and joints to organs and muscles, but our eyes age too. When we are young the lenses within the eyes, called the natural crystalline lens, is clear and flexible, and can focus freely from near to far. People of all ages may need the use of glasses to help them see distance or closer, but when we are younger this is usually due to the shape of the eye.
From around the age of 40 the natural crystalline lens starts to get cloudy and more ridged, this means that the lens can’t focus as well as it used to. This condition is called presbyopia. Everyone’s eyes age at different speeds, but the older we get the more the lenses cloud and become less flexible, and the likelihood of needing help reading or with near vision becomes more apparent, and for many older people cataracts start to develop.
When Should You See an Ophthalmologist or Eye Clinic?
While a lot of the population wear glasses from a young age and will regularly see an ophthalmologist or visit an eye clinic, there are signs you can look out for as you get older to indicate that you need to see a specialist for reading or near vision solutions;
The above signs could mean that you need to be seen to have a thorough eye exam and discuss reading or near vision solutions.
Reading and Near Vision Solutions
There are a few options you may be able to choose from when it comes to looking at reading and near vision solutions.
Treatment Options
Nowadays a lot of people find glasses inconvenient and find they don’t fit in with their lifestyle, but there is a solution for this, surgical treatment to correct near vision and/or cataracts called refractive lens exchange. This treatment is very similar to cataract surgery, where the natural crystalline lens is removed using phacoemulsification and a new artificial lens is inserted in its place. If you have a cataract this procedure will be called ‘cataract surgery’, but if you have this treatment purely for vision correction it is referred to as ‘refractive lens exchange’ and will eliminate the development of cataracts in the future.
There are a few different lens options that can be implanted and the one chosen will be decided by your ophthalmologist taking in to account suitability, lifestyle, and your expectations. All the lens options come in a variety of strengths or can be customised for your eyes and there are also options, called toric lenses, which will, along with the below solutions, will correct any astigmatism you may have.
All the above options are just an overview and if you are considering any of the options, whether surgical or not, you should attend for a full eye examination with a trusted eye clinic. If you are considering surgical options, getting an appointment with a trusted ophthalmologist, who will go through benefits, risks, and alternatives, is advised.
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