Presbyopia

[Ms. Kathy]

Presbyopia

Presbyopia
In infancy and childhood the natural lens of the eye is soft and pliable and is easily altered in shape by the ciliary muscles of the eye through a process called accommodation. Throughout life the lens of the eye gradually hardens, becomes less pliable, and progressively increases its resistance to change in shape. This leads to greater difficulty in focusing at near and, by the age of about 45 years of age, most people require reading correction, assuming their vision is corrected for distance. This condition is known as presbyopia.

Symptoms of Presbyopia

Most patients with presbyopia first notice difficulties while attempting to perform near distance tasks, such as reading. There may be blurring of near objects, or discomfort and fatigue with attempted near vision tasks. Some presbyopic individuals complain that their vision remains blurred for a few moments (or even minutes) after looking up from sustained near vision tasks. This is due to the lag of relaxation of accommodation after excessive near focusing in the presbyopic age group. Many patients complain that their "arms are too short", a statement that indicates accommodative powers are declining.

Correction of Presbyopia

Most patients in the presbyopic age range will opt for a pair of bifocal glasses, though many other options are present. Bifocal glasses have the distance correction in the top of the lens and a near reading "add" power in the lower segment. This lower segment is the equivalent of a near magnifier, the power of which is related to both age and visual acuity. Those individuals who require little or no correction for distance may desire only a pair of "reading glasses". These glasses will need to be removed for far vision tasks, of course. Contact lens wearers may opt for either "monovision" or bifocal contact lenses. Monovision refers to the wearing of one contact lens for distance and the other for near tasks, though the imbalance may be disturbing to some people. Bifocal contact lenses are an option to correct presbyopia, however, fitting may sometimes be difficult and time-consuming.

There are no surgical procedures that are FDA approved for correction of presbyopia, though several different procedures are being studied. Many patients who undergo a refractive surgical procedure such as LASIK will be offered monovision, i.e., a planned surgical approach in which one eye is left nearsighted to minimize dependence on reading correction during the presbyopic years.





www.eyemdlink.com

Is it possible to have myopia and develop presbyopia after age 40? Yes, it is. I'm living proof!

[Ms. Kathy]

Harris Poll Finds Americans Don't Understand Most Common Mid-Life Vision Problem
Survey Finds Patients Well Satisfied With Surgical Solution
Source Link:PR News Wire sev.prnewswire.com/health-care-hospitals/20070501/NETU07501052007-1.html

FAIRFAX, Va., May 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A recently completed Harris Interactive survey found an extraordinary lack of understanding of the mid- life vision condition called "presbyopia." However, it also found that the vast majority of patients who underwent implantation of artificial lenses to correct the condition were overwhelmingly satisfied.

Presbyopia is a common eye condition, typically beginning around age 45, in which the natural lens of the eye becomes firmer and resists changing focus from far to near, making everyday tasks such as reading difficult.

The survey was conducted for the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Foundation (ASCRS) to gather a better understanding of peoples' attitudes toward/knowledge of presbyopia and the available treatment options to correct this problem. The telephone survey polled 500 adults, aged 45+ from the general population, and 250 patients who had presbyopia- correcting artificial lenses implanted in their eyes.

"Survey results showed that most adults in both sample groups are not at all knowledgeable about presbyopia, nor do they know what causes it. In fact, 79% of the general population is not at all knowledgeable, and 56% of patients who have had corrective surgery for presbyopia do not even know what the condition is," said Samuel Masket, Chair of the ASCRS Presbyopia Task Group and ASCRS Past President.

By contrast, 72% of the vision correction patients say that the high technology lenses "gave you the freedom to live your life the way that you want." 84% strongly agree that they "would recommend it to others." 59% strongly agree that it "changed your life," the survey found.

"It is important for people to understand how their vision changes with age, and how they can maintain good vision through the years, says Dr. Masket, Past President, ASCRS.

"At ASCRS we see education as a vital tool for helping patients live better, happier lives, and we are constantly looking for new ways to talk to the public about their understanding of their vision. Because many patients, who have undergone surgical treatment options say that their lives have drastically improved with their renewed vision, we hope to spread the word about the importance of regularly seeing an eye doctor to talk through options for caring for your eyes."

Barriers to having vision correction surgery include costs and safety issues, but many say they don't know enough about the procedure.

The benefits of surgery were numerous, including: improved vision, not having to wear glasses, and being more self-confident.

For more information on Presbyopia and the Harris Interactive Survey, please visit www.readclearlyagain.com/ .

The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery is an international educational and scientific organization whose 9,100 member ophthalmologists specialize in cataract and refractive surgery.

Website: www.readclearlyagain.com/

[Ms. Kathy]

This story was printed from channelnewsasia.com




US approves laser surgery to fix two vision problems
By :
Date : 13 July 2007 1041 hrs (SST)
URL : www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/health/view/287929/1/.html

WASHINGTON - US health authorities Thursday approved eye surgery to help people using bifocals eliminate the need for glasses by performing different operations on each eye.

The Food and Drug Administration said the technique would correct nearsightedness in the patient's dominant eye and part of the nearsightedness in the non-dominant eye.

"This allows the patient to use the fully corrected eye for distance vision and the under-corrected eye for seeing close up," the FDA said in a statement.

"After a period of time, the brain adjusts to the difference in perception between the two eyes."

The technique called CustomVue Monovision LASIK and developed by AMO/VISX could be used to avoid the need for glasses or contact lenses for people over 40, many of whom need to correct for nearsightedness or myopia as well as presbyopia, for reading or focusing on close objects. These people currently use separate reading glasses or bifocals.

The new procedure "expands permanent vision correction options for nearsighted adults who also have trouble focusing on objects close-up," said Daniel Schultz, director of FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

"Unlike traditional LASIK, Monovision LASIK may reduce the need for reading glasses in some people over 40." - AFP/fa

[Ms. Kathy]

New Types Of Contact Lenses
Source Link: www.wjactv.com/money/14078978/detail.html

Is it getting harder and harder to read the type on your computer or make out details on a map? In middle age, the natural lens of the eye becomes stiffer, which makes it more difficult to focus up close. "It's a natural condition known as presbyopia and it happens to everyone in their forties," says Toni Hope, Health Editor, Good Housekeeping.

But according to Steve Cogger, a contact lens specialist, there are some clear solutions to this problem. "For the most part, we get lenses that are very comfortable and we can get good vision in both the distance and near again. People end up very happy with their lenses," says Steve Cogger, Theo E. Obrig, Inc.

Permeable plastic lenses with silicone hydro gel send more oxygen to the cornea than regular soft lenses. "Some of the silicone hydro gels can be worn for 30 days and 30 nights continuously without removing them and then at the end of that time period they will just be removed and thrown away," says Cogger.

Multifocal lenses have improved, too. Multifocal means the lens has a varying power rim. "The middle of the lens might have the strong distance correction and then gradually throughout the lens, it will increase to your add power so it will have more reading correction towards the periphery," says Cogger.

And with contact-related infections in the news, Good Housekeeping recommends cleaning your lens case daily with a multipurpose solution. And a final note: Remember, no matter which type of soft contact lenses you have, it's important to take them out before you go to bed. Leaving any kind of soft lens in overnight increases your chances of developing an eye infection.

For more information, check out the September issue of Good Housekeeping or visit www.goodhousekeeping.com.

[Ms. Kathy]

Saturday, September 08, 2007
Misconceptions About LASIK Eye Surgery
Source Link: eye-lasiksurgery.blogspot.com/2007/09/misconceptions-
Many people don't fully understand the details of LASIK eye surgery, even people who are undergoing the procedure! Don't be someone who waits until after your surgery to discover the things you should have known beforehand. The following are the real truths behind the two most common misconceptions about LASIK eye surgery.

1. After LASIK eye surgery I'll Never Need Glasses/Contacts Again

Depending on your age and the issues with your vision, you may or may not need corrective lenses of some kind immediately after LASIK eye surgery or later on, as you age. The vast majority of patients who undergo LASIK refractive surgery report significant improvements in their vision, which generally allow them to drive without glasses within days of their surgery. A small percentage of LASIK patients require "enhancement" surgery, which is a second LASIK eye surgery, conducted to fix any over- or under-correction of your vision resulting from the initial LASIK surgery.

Also, many people, as they age (generally between the ages of 40 and 50), develop poor vision for reading (called presbyopia). If you had LASIK surgery prior to developing presbyopia, you could still need reading glasses as you get older. Presbyopia is sometimes treated with Monovision LASIK, which corrects one eye for distance vision and the other eye for close vision.

However, patients with Monovision are still counseled to keep glasses on hand for those times when perfect distance or close vision or good depth perception (which requires both eyes) is necessary. For most people, LASIK eye surgery reduces their use of glasses to only very specific situations and specialty vision needs.

2. LASIK eye surgery wouldn't be so common if it was risky.

LASIK is surgery and all surgery comes with certain risks. More than one million people had LASIK eye surgery in the United States in 2006, and less than 1% of those patients experienced significant complications. This means that statistically, your chances of having a LASIK eye surgery without significant complications are very good.

However, given that this is surgery on your eyes, and your eyes play a vital role in your everyday life, the risks of LASIK are something you want to be aware of and take into consideration when deciding whether LASIK is right for you. The possible complications can range from minor (and temporary) increases in dry eye symptoms, to visually debilitating and permanent dry eye symptoms. A small percentage of patients lose vision at specific distances, which cannot be fixed after surgery with any kinds of corrective lenses or follow-up surgery. Another small percentage of patients develop glare, halos, or double vision. For some these problems are temporary, but for others they're permanent and especially noticeable in challenging visual situations, such as at night or in fog. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, LASIK eye surgery is safe and effective for most corrections. (The worse your vision is prior to surgery, the less likely LASIK is right for you.) Many ophthalmologists believe

that the risks of long-term contact lens use may exceed the risk of LASIK, although the fact that LASIK has only been around for just over 10 years means that the long-term effects of LASIK can not yet be known.

Conclusion

In general, the thing to keep in mind is that all but statistically few LASIK patients end up with improved vision and good results. However, those who experience complications from LASIK eye surgery tend to be VERY unhappy (and vocal) about it. You don't get your money back whether your vision is better or worse after LASIK eye surgery.

You shouldn't let a vocal unhappy minority convince you that LASIK eye surgery is terrible any more than you should let slick marketing campaigns convince you that it's risk-free and perfect. Carefully discuss the visual situations you hope to correct, your various expectations, and all potential risks and complications with your LASIK surgeon in a (often free) consultation prior to surgery. And, as with any major medical procedure, it's wise to get a second opinion.

About the Author
Did you find these tips on LASIK eye surgery useful? You can learn a lot more about LASIK that can help you do what's right for YOUR eyes by clicking here. Cambria Reid researches and writes in-depth articles on LASIK laser eye surgery, its risks, costs, FAQs, benefits, and more for the popular www.Likely-LASIK.com.

[Ms. Kathy]

LASIK - a Cure for Blurry Vision?
Source Link:http://black-pimp-teenifeitghkrnp.blogspot.com/2007/09/lasik-cure-for-

Presbyopia is an eye disorder that normally sets in between the ages of 40-50. A lot many theories have been suggested to delineate its proper cause. However, the most convincing theory is that the eye lens loses its elasticity over time, and this in turn results in the loss of accommodation power of the lens. Consequently, the lens is unable to focus on nearby objects, and hence the patients near vision is rather blurry. Presbyopia affects everyone at a certain age and it is not routinely curable.

The loss of accommodation power can be compensated for through LASIK surgery by producing whats called monovision? Normally, people possess binocular vision. That is, both eyes work together equally while viewing an object. On the other hand, in case of monovision, one eye is corrected for near vision and the other is corrected for distant vision. LASIK surgeons make use of this technique to counter presbyopia.

LASIK can be a viable option for producing monovision. However, there is a caveat. Monovision is not appropriate for everyone. Furthermore, monovision may also interfere with depth perception. That is, the patient may not be able to perceive the accurate distance of any object, since accurate 3D perception requires input from both eyes. Therefore, it is recommended that the patient first uses contact lenses to produce monovision, in order to ensure that he or she can adapt to the change. Apart from surgery, a patient may use prescription glasses (bifocal or progressive) to compensate for the loss of power of accommodation.

Intraocular lens implant is another viable alternative to counter presbyopia. In essence, the natural lens is replaced with a new lens to achieve accurate refraction. Another interesting aspect is that presbyopia may not have a major affect on people with myopia. In general, a myopic does not have trouble reading without glasses. Thus a myopic often possesses perfect reading vision, without any visual aid, even in the old age and even after presbyopia sets in.

[Ms. Kathy]

The Effects of Presbyopia
People who suffer from presbyopia can't focus on objects that are up close. Find out more about what causes presbyopia and how it's treated.
Click here to see a video deomonstrating the effects of presbyopia:
video.about.com/vision/Presbyopia.htm

Source: About.com