Presbyopia
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Once the natural lens has been removed, it cannot become progressively stiffer in the way that causes presbyopia.
This does not mean your vision can never change for another reason. Other eye conditions can develop over time, and some patients may experience changes that require further assessment or treatment.
Presbyopia is a normal consequence of ageing and affects almost everyone to some degree. The age at which you first notice it and the amount of correction you need can vary.
Even people who have always had excellent eyesight, or who previously had laser eye surgery, can develop presbyopia as their natural lens ages.
Hypermetropia, also called long-sightedness or hyperopia, and presbyopia can both make near vision difficult, but they have different causes.
Hypermetropia is a refractive error related to how the eye focuses light and can occur at different ages, while presbyopia is an age-related reduction in the flexibility of the natural lens that typically becomes noticeable from the 40s onwards. It is possible to have both at the same time.
No. LASIK cannot treat presbyopia because it reshapes the cornea rather than addressing the age-related changes in the natural lens.
If you rely on reading glasses, we can assess whether another treatment option may be suitable.
No. Laser eye surgery cannot treat presbyopia, because it does not restore the natural lens's ability to focus up close.
If you are dependent on reading glasses, we can assess whether another treatment option may be more appropriate.
Presbyopia can be corrected in several ways, depending on your vision needs, eye health and lifestyle. Options may include reading glasses, bifocal or varifocal glasses, multifocal or monovision contact lenses, laser-based vision correction for selected patients, or Lens Replacement Surgery where suitable.
A detailed eye assessment can help determine which approach is most appropriate for your prescription and individual circumstances.
The natural age-related stiffening of the eye's lens is not reversible. Vision can nevertheless be corrected so that close-up tasks become clearer.
The best option depends on your eyes and whether you prefer glasses, contact lenses or a surgical approach.
Presbyopia cannot currently be reversed by making the natural ageing lens flexible again. It can be corrected or compensated for in several ways, including reading glasses, multifocal or varifocal lenses, contact lenses and surgical vision correction for suitable patients.
Lens Replacement Surgery takes a different approach by removing the ageing natural lens and replacing it with an artificial lens selected to provide the most appropriate range of focus.
Young eyes can change focus easily because their natural lenses are flexible. With age, the lens gradually stiffens and loses this ability.
Because this ageing process happens to almost everyone, presbyopia is an extremely common part of getting older.
Presbyopia is caused mainly by age-related changes to the natural lens inside your eye. As the lens becomes less flexible, it cannot change shape as effectively to focus on nearby objects.
It commonly becomes noticeable during your 40s and progresses gradually with age. It is not caused by reading too much, using screens, poor diet or overworking your eyes.
Presbyopia means the age-related loss of the eye's ability to focus clearly on nearby objects. It occurs because the natural lens inside the eye gradually becomes less flexible with age.
This makes tasks such as reading small print or looking at a phone more difficult without additional vision correction.