Lasik Vision Correction for Presbyopia (aging eyes) Around the age of 40, most of us who are farsighted or normal sighted become aware that our close up vision is no longer as clear. We find ourselves holding books and newspapers farther and farther away in order to see the printing clearly. The larger and less flexible crystalline lens in the eye no longer provides enough power for reading. Traditionally, as we age, we resort to wearing bifocals to be able to read or do close up work. Is Lasik Vision Correction possible for Presbyopia? The new trend in Lasik vision correction for Presbyopia is called monovision. Monovision is where one eye is corrected for near vision and the other for far vision. By focusing one eye for distance and the other for near, the goal is to be able to see both far and near when you use both eyes. Everyone has a dominant eye (this is the eye that takes the lead, tells your eyes where to point and how to focus) and a non-dominant eye. Your dominant eye would be corrected for distance and your non dominant eye for reading. Does monovision work to correct Presbyopia in all older patients? Monovision works well for about 50% of all patients with Presbyopia. How do you know if it would work for you before you make the investment in Lasik vision correction? Your eye doctor can allow you to 'test-drive' monovision and 'try before you buy', by letting you use contact lenses that slightly under-correct nearsightedness in your non-dominant eye. For some people who try monovision, they instantly know that this is a perfect solution for them. Their eyes are able to view a mountain in the distance one moment and switch to looking at their watch the next. They are able to view both far and near with reasonably clear focused vision. The other 50% of people (myself, included) find that this drives them crazy. If you spend most of your time doing highly technical, demanding, critical close up work, monovision may not be right for you. I complained to my eye doctor that using contacts to try monovision didn't allow me to see as perfectly for close up work as bifocals did. He told me that in his experience, for his patients who are a type A personality, very picky about small details and demand absolute clarity in close up vision, monovision was not always a good choice. It's a good idea to talk to your eye doctor and 'try before you buy' to make sure that Lasik vision correction is right for treating your Presbyopia. |
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