Presbyopia, a common age-related condition impacting patients in this age range, involves the eye’s natural lens becoming increasingly stiff. This stiffness prevents the lens from adequately focusing light for clear near vision. As a result, individuals accustomed to perfect vision will often need over-the-counter reading glasses for activities like reading and computer work. Achieving simultaneous sharp distance and near vision in each eye becomes challenging, even with a clear lens. Laser vision correction can optimize distance vision, but reading glasses will still be necessary for near vision tasks.
Monovision, where one eye is corrected for near vision and the other for distance, can be a vision correction option. A contact lens trial can help determine if you tolerate it, and if so, LASIK or PRK might eliminate the need for glasses and contacts. An evaluation with your ophthalmologist is needed to discuss the risks and benefits and determine the best surgical approach.
If you have cataracts at the time of your surgical vision correction consultation, a lens-based procedure like refractive cataract surgery may be recommended instead of LASIK or PRK. Your surgeon will discuss lens replacement options, including advanced intraocular lenses (IOLs) used with cataract surgery, which can reduce your dependence on glasses and contacts while simultaneously addressing the cataract, the medical cause of visual impairment.