Are you starting to squint while reading? Are you finding it difficult to read up close?
Presbyopia is a common age related condition that affects those above the age of 40! It is an eye condition that results in the gradual lost of ability of seeing things up close.
When an object becomes blurry to read, we often try to hold things closer for a clearer view. However, it is best to hold your reading materials a bit further away in this case! Finding a comfortable distance and holding your reading materials at the same distance every time.
2. Use reading glasses
General magnifiers: available for purchase over the counter for a lower cost and for convenience. However, it is less effective of a choice as these type of glasses assumes both eyes are the same instead of calibrating to the need of each eye.
Prescription reading glasses: a recommended option, as it is calibrated for your individual eye-care needs and the distance you prefer!
3. Use multifocal lenses
The lenses allows you to see at multiple distances without the need to take your glasses off
Office lenses: a combination of computer and reading distance together
Bifocal lenses: there has been many changes to bifocal glasses lenses since Franklin's original design! Sometimes, you may see glasses that has a line at the bottom of the lens. This allows people to read when they look under that line.
Multifocal progressive lenses: these type of lenses removes the line in bifocal lenses. Allowing you to look faraway, and as you gradually look down it increases in power for reading clearly as well.
If you are interested in multifocal or bifocal lenses, it is highly recommended to visit your optometrist or visit us in store! Online purchases of these lenses often have a lower satisfaction rate, due to the calibration required for these lenses to work in a pair of frames.
4. Use of contact lenses
use multifocal contact lenses: allows for reading and seeing at multiple distance (far or close)
use of distance lenses only: have reading glasses on top when required
the monovision technique : a technique used for correcting one eye for long distance and one eye for reading (close distance). When you try to focus on something, your brain will automatically utilise the eye that is clearest for that distance
5. Refractive surgery
It is recommended to try out the contact lenses method first before committing to a more permanent decision.
Laser eye surgery: allows the same functioning as the monovision technique
Lens implant: implant of multifocal or monovision lenses inside your eyes
Corneal inlays: an implant of a disc onto the surface of the eye. This reduces the amount of light that reaches your eyes, allowing you to focus on reading materials up close.
Regular checkups are important to keep your eyes happy and healthy!
