Explaining Presbyopia

The natural lens inside of the eye helps to determine the focal point of the eye. When the lens is short and squat, it gives you good reading vision. When the lens is flat and taut, it gives you good vision at distance.

At younger ages, the lens is flexible, and it easily changes shape. This is called accommodation. But when you reach middle age, the lens becomes more rigid, and it loses the ability to assume the short and squat shape necessary for near vision. This loss of accommodation is called presbyopia. Presbyopia causes most people in their 40s to have difficulty reading without the help of either “cheaters” or bifocals.

If you are eager to avoid wearing glasses to see up close, Vermont Eye Laser offers options for treating presbyopia. In particular, monovision can be achieved through LASIK, or at the time of cataract surgery.

Visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeSmart® website to learn more about Presbyopia.