Are you finding it harder and harder to focus on the words on the page? Getting headaches after trying to read for long periods of time? If so, it could be that your eyes are feeling the effects of age and you’re starting to lose your reading vision.
Over the years, the eyes lose their muscular power, making it harder to focus at close distances. This condition is known as presbyopia. It’s an age-related refractive condition that results in loss of focus up close. The lens in the eye becomes less flexible, and it usually means that you’ll need glasses in order to read.
Presbyopia can occur in people who otherwise have good vision, but it can also occur in people who are already affected by other optical conditions such as astigmatism, myopia and hyperopia. Luckily, there are vision correction treatments available at Optegra which can help to correct this very common issue.
What are the symptoms of presbyopia?
There are a number of common symptoms that people with presbyopia suffer from. So, if the following issues sound familiar, then you may well need to think about your options, or book a consultation with Optegra to learn how we can help.
- Difficulty focussing on things in your close range
- Headaches or eye pains when reading or doing close-up work
- Fatigue when focussing for long periods of time
- Relying on brighter or increased lighting
- Having to hold books, mobile phones and other reading materials at arm’s length in order to properly focus on them
Onset of presbyopia usually occurs from the age of 40 and becomes more noticeable after that. By the age of 60, many people will have lost the elasticity in the lens that enables them to focus on objects close up.
Can reading vision be improved
One of the most common options for people with reading vision problems is to use reading glasses, which are specially designed to help the lens focus at short distances.
As reading glasses are only needed for short distances, they can be a bit of a nuisance. Some people wear them on a chain around their necks so that they can easily access them. Others carry them around in a case. But having to constantly put them on and take them off just to read a recipe or an article in the paper can be a bit of a pain. That’s where laser eye surgery comes in.
Optegra is proud to offer the most advanced optical treatments available, including laser eye surgery, cataract surgery, and lens replacement. If you would like to speak to one of our expert ophthalmic surgeons, contact our team today.
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Getting laser eye surgery for reading?
Thanks to developments in technology and surgical procedures, there are now several alternatives available that offer a more permanent solution to reading vision problems.
Laser eye surgery has a very impressive success rate for correcting reading vision. Using a precision laser, your surgeon will make adjustments to your cornea to correct any visual impairments that you may have. There are several different laser eye treatments available, including LASIK, LASEK and ReLEx SMILE. Depending on your individual circumstances, your surgeon will be able to assess whether you are suitable for laser eye surgery, and will recommend the best treatment option for you.
Another option is lens replacement surgery, an innovative treatment which can correct a wide range of visual problems as well as treating and preventing the development of cataracts.
Arranging your presbyopia treatment
If you’re having problems with your reading vision, or you’re finding the reliance on your reading glasses is starting to become an issue, come and see us for a free consultation to discuss your options.
Our surgeons are highly trained by the NHS and are all Fellows of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists or equivalent organisations. They’re some of the best in the world and you’ll be working with the same surgeon throughout your treatment. We have clinics and hospitals all over the UK, including two in London, so there is sure to be a treatment centre close to you.
By Author: Amir Hamid
Mr. Amir Hamid is a Clinical Lead for Vision Correction and an expert refractive surgeon, based in London.