Presbyopia

Starting around age 40, you may begin to notice yourself holding books, menus, or your cell phone at arm’s length as you try to make the text come into focus. This frustrating symptom of aging is known as presbyopia.

At Montgomery Eye Care, we provide a range of treatment options to counteract the effects of presbyopia so you can see close objects more clearly. If you live in or near Denver, Northglenn, or Westminster, Colorado, Dr. Jim E. Montgomery can examine your eyes to evaluate your condition and find a solution suited to your needs.

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What is Presbyopia?
Symptoms of Presbyopia
Who is at Risk for Presbyopia?
Presbyopia Treatment Options
Frequently Asked Questions About Presbyopia

What is Presbyopia?

As we age, our eyes gradually lose the ability to focus on nearby objects. This age-related near vision loss is called presbyopia. Unlike astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness, presbyopia is not related to the shape of the eyeball. Instead, this age-related issue stems from the loss of elasticity of the natural lens in your eye, which progressively limits the focusing power of the eye.

Symptoms of Presbyopia

Presbyopia symptoms begin to affect everyone in their early 40s. Typical Trusetd Source Checkbox Trusted Source Presbyopia National Eye Institute Go to Source symptoms of presbyopia include:

Headaches
Eye strain
Visual fatigue
Blurred vision at normal reading distance
Difficulty reading fine print
Holding objects and reading material farther from your eyes to see them clearly

For many patients, these symptoms are worse if they are tired or in an area with poor lighting.

presbyopia graphic

middle aged man hiking using a map and binoculars

Who is at Risk for Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is a normal part of the eye’s aging process, so it happens to nearly everybody. There are certain risk factors that may contribute to developing presbyopia at an earlier age.
Trusetd Source Checkbox Trusted Source Presbyopia Mayo Clinic Go to Source Presbyopia risk factors include:

Farsightedness (hyperopia)
Multiple sclerosis
Cardiovascular disease
Diabetes
Anemia
Previous eye trauma or injury

Presbyopia Treatment Options

At Montgomery Eye Care, we know that all of our middle-aged patients will eventually struggle with near vision loss due to presbyopia. We also know that each patient’s vision needs and lifestyles are unique, so their presbyopia treatment plans also need to be unique. This is why we offer multiple treatment options for patients with presbyopia, including:

Refractive Lens Exchange

Refractive Lens Exchange, or RLE, is a procedure to replace the eye’s lens with an advanced artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The surgical technique is similar to cataract surgery and patients who have either procedure at Montgomery Eye Care will work with Dr. Montgomery to choose from a wide selection of premium IOLs that can improve eyesight at multiple ranges of vision for less dependence on glasses or contacts.

By replacing the entire lens of the eye, Dr. Montgomery is able to treat presbyopia permanently. The entire lens of the eye is replaced during refractive lens exchange, eliminating the likelihood of developing cataracts in the future.

Learn More About Refractive Lens Exchange

At Montgomery Eye Care, we offer a wide selection of intraocular lens options that can treat vision at one or all ranges to meet each patient’s specific vision needs.

Learn More About IOL Options

Monovision Refractive Surgery

Refractive surgery, including LASIK, PRK, or RLE, with monovision is also an option for patients who wish to improve near vision loss caused by presbyopia. Using monovision or blended vision, Dr. Montgomery can correct one eye for intermediate or close vision while correcting the other eye for distance vision. The brain can combine images from both eyes, producing clearer vision at a wide range. For some patients, it’s difficult to adjust to monovision. To help patients determine if monovision is the right solution for them, we often recommend a trial period with contact lenses before the surgery is scheduled.

Eyeglasses

For patients who aren’t ready to have surgery to treat presbyopia, bifocals or reading glasses may be the way to go. Our optometrist, Dr. Ryan Dugan, can evaluate patients’ vision to help them find the best solution.

Contact Lenses

Contact lenses may also be a good option for patients with presbyopia. Some patients may also benefit from monovision contact lenses, where one eye is corrected for near or intermediate vision and the other is corrected for distance vision. Multifocal contacts are also available.

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Dr Montgomery has been my ophthalmologist for several years, I highly recommend him. He always takes the time to answer all my questions. He is compassionate to my concerns re eye surgery and I have grown to trust and respect him a lot.
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Very professional and caring physician, whom I feel very confident in. He is very current on the best treatment for whatever eye issue is going on. Also he has a very kind and helpful staff.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Presbyopia

How do I know if I have presbyopia?

If you are in your 40’s and are beginning to notice changes in your near vision or difficulty reading in dim light, it’s very likely that you have presbyopia. The best way to find out if your vision issues are related to presbyopia is to schedule an appointment with Dr. Montgomery. He can perform a comprehensive eye exam and determine the optimal method for restoring your vision.

I already underwent vision correction surgery. Will I still get presbyopia?

Vision correction surgery procedures like LASIK and PRK can improve your near vision, but they can’t stop the eye’s natural aging process. The focusing power of the natural lens still diminishes over time.

Can presbyopia be cured with LASIK?

LASIK is a fantastic option for our patients who want to correct their vision at a single range. Dr. Montgomery can perform monovision LASIK to help patients see more clearly at a wide range of distances, but this may not be the ideal solution for many of our patients. For many, the most effective presbyopia treatment is refractive lens exchange.

Contact Montgomery Eye Care

Presbyopia is a normal part of the eye’s aging process that can be incredibly frustrating and interfere with many aspects of your day-to-day life. At Montgomery Eye Care, we understand the importance of finding a presbyopia treatment that fits your budget and lifestyle. If you live in the Denver, Northglenn or Westminster, Colorado area, and are beginning to struggle to see close objects, contact us to learn more about presbyopia treatment options.

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¹ American Academy of Ophthalmology. What is Presbyopia? Available: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-presbyopia. Accessed December 21, 2022.

² National Eye Institute. Presbyopia. Available: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/presbyopia. Accessed December 21, 2022.

³ Mayo Clinic. Presbyopia. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/presbyopia/symptoms-causes/syc-20363328. Accessed December 21, 2022.

The doctors at Montgomery Eye Care have authored or reviewed and approved this content. | Page Updated: March 20, 2023