In a previous blog post, we talked with our ophthalmologists Michael Gordon, MD and Dr. David Schanzlin about the causes of presbyopia, an eye condition that affects most individuals in their mid-40s and beyond. Presbyopia results in a gradual loss of near-vision, and makes it very difficult to properly focus on up-close objects. Today, we continue our conversation with Dr. Gordon and Dr. Schanzlin, exploring some of the available treatment options for presbyopia.
Dr. Michael Gordon: To improve the symptoms of presbyopia, there are a number of options that may be beneficial, including:
- Glasses
- Bifocal contact lenses
- Surgical treatment
Surgical options can include LASIK Monovision, in which you leave one eye a little bit nearsighted and the other eye being typically perfect for distance vision. Your brain basically puts these images together. It’s like listening to stereo music: what’s coming out of the two speakers is different, but you only hear the song or the music. That’s the same thing that happens when we do Monovision treatment for reading. Your brain just sees what you’re looking at even though the images may be different from the two eyes. I’ve been performing Monovision procedures for many years and I’ve found that it works extremely well.
Dr. David Schanzlin:
You can also have the lens of the eye removed and replace it with a plastic intraocular lens (IOL) to correct near-vision. You can use monofocal, multifocal, or accommodative lenses.
At our office we will talk to you about available options to improve the symptoms of presbyopia and determine the best treatment approach based on your unique visual needs.
Dr. Michael Gordon: In addition to the advanced presbyopia treatments available at our practice, there are several clinical trials we’re involved in – including one that Dr. Schanzlin is doing with the company Refocus – and one that I’m working on that utilizes a lens insert into the cornea with the company Presbia.
In the final entry of our series on presbyopia, we’ll talk more with Drs. Gordon and Schanzlin about the clinical studies in which they are currently participating and what the future may hold for presbyopia treatment.
Contact Gordon Schanzlin New Vision Institute
To learn more about presbyopia, or to schedule a consultation, please contact us today.