Griffin & Reed Eye Care Vision Information

Age = cataracts and presbyopia As we age, changes occur in our vision that may lead to a number of conditions, such as cataracts and presbyopia.

A cataract is an opaque or cloudy area that forms within the eye's lens, making vision difficult. Cataracts occur with aging or trauma. The treatment for cataracts is to remove the lens and implant an artificial lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL).

Presbyopia is an age-related vision impairment. As the tiny muscles controlling the crystalline lens become weaker, the lens cannot be shaped to accommodate changes in distance. Vision becomes blurry for near objects and the individual ends up needing reading glasses. While presbyopia cannot be treated by LASIK, an intraocular lens, also called an artificial lens, can solve the problem.

The IOL is implanted in the eye to replace the natural crystalline lens. The newest types of intraocular lenses are multifocal, helping patients to see both near and far.

While none of us enjoys the changes in our vision that occur as we become older, it's comforting to know medical science has found ways to correct some of these issues so we can continue to lead healthy and productive lives.

If you are experiencing vision changes or it's time for a thorough eye exam, visit the eye care professionals at Griffin & Reed Eye Care, specialists in visual care and leading providers of Sacramento LASIK.

More About presbyopia
Presbyopia is the inability to adjust vision to see close up due to weakening eye muscles and loss of eye flexibility. It happens to everyone to some degree as we age.

Around the age of 40, some people notice they cannot see as well close up as they once could. Their eyes feel more tired when they read, do needlepoint or work on the computer, and they may choose reading glasses to help with their failing vision.

While presbyopia is commonly treated with prescription eyewear, (bifocals, progressive lenses, or reading glasses) other treatments are available:

• Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) corrects presbyopia and creates monovision, adjusting one eye for near vision and the other eye for distance vision.
• ReStor and ReZoom are also intraocular replacement procedures with the added benefit of preventing cataracts in the future.

Brand new procedures, not yet approved by the FDA, may soon be available as well. Your Sacramento LASIK professional can tell you more about these promising options.

If you're over 40 years old, be sure that every visit to your eye doctor includes presbyopia testing. If it's been some time since you've had a thorough eye examination, schedule one today to give yourself the chance to see the world in a new light!

Labels: cataracts, CK, intraocular lens, IOL, lasik, presbyopia, ReSTOR, vision correction

Patti

 

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Eye Exercises and Presbyopia Recently, Nintendo has been promoting a new game package for its handheld DS system. The package, called Flash Focus, is a series of exercises for your eyes, ostensibly to stave off vision loss that occurs as we age. Very popular in Japan, Nintendo is hoping to target a different sector of the American market with this product. The question is: if you want better vision, can eye exercises help?

When we are young, our healthy eyes work well in seeing both near and far. As the eyes age, problems with nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia may begin to appear. And while eye exercises might seem like a logical way to improve vision strength, in reality they seem to be of little value.

Presbyopia is of particular concern to older individuals. Although no one knows the exact cause of the disease, It has also been postulated that a weakness in the muscles makes them unable to compress and bend the lens as necessary to make it focus on objects at different distances. However, since eye exercises seem to be of little use in correcting the disease, it seems unlikely that the muscles are the problem. The most common theory for the cause of presbyopia is that the lens loses elasticity, making it harder for the muscles to bend it to focus up close. Fortunately, remedies exist.

Many people wear reading glasses to cope with presbyopia. Thankfully, modern technology now offers the intraocular lens, also called an artificial lens, to solve this aggravating vision problem.

The intraocular lens works when implanted in the eye, replacing the stiffened crystalline lens. Intraocular lenses can be multifocal so that patients are able to see both up close and at a distance.

If you're struggling with presbyopia, why continue when the problem can be solved so quickly and easily? The Sacramento LASIK surgeons at Griffin & Reed Eye Care would be happy to discuss your vision needs in a private consultation.

Labels: astigmatism, farsightedness, lasik, myopia, nearsightedness, presbyopia, vision correction

Patti

 

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