What is presbyopia?


 
   

As already described under "farsightedness", the ability of the eye lens to change shape in order to focus on different distances decreases with age.

In the beginning it is helpful to hold the newspaper further away, but later on in life every person with normal vision (starting at approximately age 45) will need reading glasses for close-up vision.

These contexts are especially important for nearsighted people.

A person with slight nearsightedness (approx. -2 to -3 dioptres) will always need glasses for focused distance vision. For the purpose of reading, the glasses can simply be removed; this person is able to read without glasses. A mild nearsightedness makes it possible to read without glasses at an older age; however, glasses will always be needed for distant vision (for example, driving a car or watching television). If nearsightedness is corrected by a surgical procedure, glasses will no longer be needed for distance vision. With increased age, presbyopia will occur as with any other person, and reading glasses will be needed.

Presbyopia = Reading glasses?
New aspects of presbyopia correction

Patients with a refractive error and a beginning cataract may be eligible for multifocal intraocular lenses.

Patients with normal sight may qualify for a new product called AcuFocus.
AcuFocus is a corneal implant, which will be embedded in the cornea of one eye under a LASIK-like corneal flap. The FreeVis LASIK Center Mannheim is one of only few European clinics participating in the international clinical AcuFocus study.