Presbyopia correction with eyeglasses

Presbyopia may affect both those who had never required eyesight correction and those who already use glasses or lenses for myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism. 

 1I do not need correction for distance vision. I do not use eyeglasses. 

 2. I am short-sighted and I wear eyeglasses all the time.

Short-sighted individuals (with good near vision and poor distance vision) who wear glasses on a daily basis have it slightly easier. When first symptoms of presbyopia appear, they usually manage them by taking off their glasses for reading. This may seem like an ideal solution — you always have your glasses on, and can simply remove them when necessary. However, in our daily life, there are many situations requiring us to shift our focus between objects located at different distances. Examples include driving a car — when we need to look at the road as well as at the various indicators on the dashboard — or taking attendance in school — when the teacher alternately looks at the list and at the class. In these and similar situations, taking off your glasses or moving them up to your forehead is hardly comfortable. 

3. I am far-sighted and I wear eyeglasses all the time. 

In people with hyperopia (far-sightedness), presbyopia usually develops earlier than in those with myopia or perfect eyesight. It manifests as difficulty in seeing clearly at a distance when using optimal near correction. In this case, you need to use a different correction for near and distance vision. 

Solutions: 

  • Monofocal glasses (for near vision) –  commonly referred to as “reading glasses”, even though people with presbyopia also need them for many daily activities other than reading. 
  • Two pairs of eyeglasses  used alternately, one for near, the other for distance vision. 
  • Bifocal glasses a single pair of eyeglasses fitted with lenses having two areas with different optical powers: one for near and one for distance vision. This eliminates the need for using two different pairs of glasses. 
Example of bifocal glasses (the line between the two correction zones is visible) author: Frank C. Mülle. 
  • Eyeglasses with progressive lenses are the most technologically advanced type of glasses for presbyopia correction. Progressive lenses enable clear vision at all distances (near, intermediate, and distance vision). They work similarly to the bifocal lenses discussed above, but there is a smooth transition between the three zones of visionwithout any line which could be seen e.g. by people you talk to. With this solution, you have just one pair of eyeglasses, and you do not have to switch or remove them like you would with monofocal or bifocal lenses.
Example of a progressive lens: 

 Advantages and disadvantages of each choice

Polish “Presbyopia 21” Club section

The Polish “Presbyopia 21” Club was established in April 2016 in Poznań, Poland, by Professor Andrzej Grzybowski. The creation of this first-ever Polish group of experts on presbyopia was motivated by the ophthalmologic community’s virtually unanimous view that access to reliable knowledge on modern presbyopia correction methods was insufficient.

The club brings together Polish and international ophthalmology practitioners and professors interested in modern methods for presbyopia correction.

Foundation for Supporting the Development of Ophthalmology (Ophthalmology 21)

Adam Mickiewicz Street 24/3b
60-836 Poznań
Greater Poland Voivodeship
NIP: 7811880464

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