Visit your Franklin, TN Optometrist to Find Out About Treatment Options

Presbyopia is a visual impairment related to aging in which near vision becomes diminished. With the growing international population of older adults, more and more individuals are developing the condition, which currently cannot be avoided.

Theories about the cause of presbyopia are that the eye will begin to harden by age 40, making it harder for the eyes to focus in on an object, particularly something nearby. Those with the condition often deal with the situation by holding a book away from their eyes or standing back from the object they want to focus on. Shifting from focusing on far off things to nearer ones is often strenuous for people with presbyopia. The strain might add further discomfort resulting in headaches, eye strain or fatigue.

Most commonly bifocals or progressives (PALs) are worn to correct presbyopia. A bifocal lens is separated into two points of focus, the upper portion is for seeing objects at a distance and the lower portion of the lens is for looking at objects nearby. Progressive addition lenses work similarly to bifocals, however the transitions between the two prescriptions are more gradual and have no clear distinction between them. Wearers will more easily change their focus, as they could with normal sight. An alternative would be reading glasses which are usually worn just when needed as opposed to all day.

If contact lenses are preferred over eyeglasses, there are other options such as multifocal contact lenses. Multifocal contact lenses aren't suitable for everyone and can sometimes cause discomfort or vision difficulties, so it may take some time to determine if and in what combination they work for you.

There are also options for other procedures including surgery available that you may want to discuss with your optometrist. Many patients find the most success by using a combination of treatments for presbyopia. Also, because your vision will continue to deteriorate with age, it is likely that you will be required to continually adjust your correction. The good news is, there is a significant amount of research being done to identify other and perhaps more permanent treatments for presbyopia.

Seeing symptoms of presbyopia? Schedule a check up with your Franklin, TN eye doctor. A return to normal vision is worth it!