Presbyopia Diagnosis and Treatment

Over-the-Counter Glasses

If you have just been diagnosed with presbyopia and this is the first time that you require glasses then you might have a very basic prescription for reading glasses which you can buy over-the-counter at a pharmacy. Most pharmacies have ready-made reading glasses with prescriptions that range from +1 to +3 diopters, which is the measurement used for power in the glasses. These glasses are low prescription and can be used if you don’t have any other vision problems such as nearsightedness or farsightedness. You can ask your eye doctor if this option is suitable for you and which power glasses will fit your needs. You can also try on the reading glasses in the pharmacy and test which power best suits your visual needs as you practise reading while wearing the glasses. Using trial and error and experimenting with the most comfortable reading distance for you, you can find the best suited reading glasses for you in the store.

Prescription Reading Glasses

If you have other vision issues such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism then your eye doctor can prescribe glasses specific for your vision needs that you will only use for reading or at close distances. When you are driving or doing anything that requires vision at an intermediate or far distance then you will take off these glasses as the prescription is only for close up.

Prescription Glasses/ Contact Lenses for Both Near and Far Distances

There are a variety of glasses and contact lenses available which allow for an optical correction at both near and far distances within the same lenses. There are bifocals which have a prescription for distance vision on the top of the lens and then there’s a line that separates that from the bottom of the lens which has a prescription for near vision. 

There are multifocals, also known as progressive lenses, which allow for distance vision when looking through the top of the lens and then there’s no visible separation, but rather a smooth transition to the bottom of the lens which provides clear vision for up close distances. You can’t tell if a person is wearing multifocals as it has the same appearance as a regular lens. Please speak to your eye doctor to find out which option is best for you and your needs.

Monovision

This is a unique approach used with contact lenses in which one eye has a lens that allows for clear vision at a distance, while the other eye has a lens that allows for clear vision up close. This can be a helpful option for some people, but this method isn’t suitable for everyone so please consult with your eye doctor to figure out what is best for you.

Refractive Surgery

This method is non-reversible and the patient must be warned prior to surgery that they may still need to use glasses even after going through the procedure. Some people with presbyopia get refractive surgery to achieve monovision. This means that they will undergo surgery to reshape the cornea of one eye in order to see clearly at near distances using this eye while the other eye can see clearly at far distances. There are various refractive surgery options and each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Please consult with your eye doctor to find out if you are a qualified candidate for refractive surgery and to figure out the best option for you.

Lens Implants

There is a procedure available in which the biological lens inside the eye can be removed and replaced with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens. There are various types of implants and each come with their own pros and cons. Your eye doctor can figure out with you which intraocular lens best suits your needs and lifestyle. Lens implants can decrease the quality of your near vision so people who go through this procedure may still need to wear reading glasses. Keep in mind, any eye surgery comes with risk of side effects or complications. Depending on the health of your eyes and your overall health, your eye doctor will decide if you qualify for this procedure and will discuss the benefits and risks with you.