Detect the first signs of presbyopia

Just like grey hair, presbyopia is a normal sign of aging. It’s also an unavoidable condition. Read on to find out what symptoms are associated with presbyopia, what treatments are available, and what products are considered the best on the market. Who knows, it might just be time for you to consider a pair of reading glasses.

WHAT IS PRESBYOPIA AND WHO IS AT RISK?

Presbyopia is the normal loss of the ability to focus at near. It occurs when the crystalline lens (behind the iris) hardens and the ciliary muscles (which are attached to the lens) stiffen. As mentioned above, this condition will affect everyone as they age – there are no exceptions to this rule. Presbyopia usually starts affecting adults in their 40s, sometimes late 30s. The following video will provide you with more information about presbyopia.

THE EARLY SIGNS OF PRESBYOPIA

Even though it might seem like it appears out of the blue, the truth is that presbyopia is a condition that gradually appears. Here are some early warning signs:

• You need to move your reading material farther away
• A blurry vision when looking at things up close
• Headaches
• Visual fatigue
• If you are near-sighted, you need to take your glasses off to see better

If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, you should consider booking an appointment with an eyecare expert who can assess your vision.

SHOULD YOU PURCHASE READING GLASSES FROM A STORE OR AT A SPECIALIZED CLINIC?

Once you’ve received a presbyopia diagnosis, there’s no need to worry. There are several tools that can help you enjoy a sharper, more comfortable vision. These include progressive lenses, anti-fatigue lenses (depending on the severity of your presbyopia), contact lenses for presbyopia, laser surgery, or even intraocular lens implants. If you decide to opt for glasses, don’t run to the nearest big-box store. While the price might be tempting, there are many factors to consider.

Store-bought glasses can be a quick solution to help you read but they are not designed to correct other conditions such as astigmatism, hypermetropia, and myopia. Your clinic’s experts are trained to make sure you walk away with a pair of high-quality fames and prescription lenses that are adapted to your specific needs. On the other hand, store-bought glasses could cause headaches or double vision.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS

Wondering which ophthalmic lenses are the best at correcting presbyopia? There are several options available. Your Opto-Réseau experts will recommend, among others, Essilor’s Varilux X series, Hoya’s iD MyStyle 2 and iD LifeStyle 3, Zeiss’s Smartlife Individual as well as Nikon’s SeeMax Ultimate. These lenses are the most efficient on the market and can be customized to your morphology for ultimate comfort.

GETTING USED TO YOUR FIRST PAIR OF PROGRESSIVE LENSES

Once you’ve settled on a pair of frames and lenses, you’ll need a bit of time to get used to your new glasses. How long depends on a variety of factors such as how much your prescription has changed or if your frames are curved.

Here are a few tips that may help:

• Choose a high-quality pair of progressive lenses
• Move your head, not your eyes
• Make sure the lenses fit your needs and the frames are properly fitted
• Wear your glasses as much as possible
• Place the objects in front of your face
• To look at far objects, look through the top part of your lenses
• To read a computer screen, look through the middle part of your lenses
• To read a book or text on your cellphone, look through the bottom part of your lenses

For more information about presbyopia, contact your Opto-Réseau clinic.