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Mr David Allamby
MD, FRCOphth, FRCS
Presbyopia Laser Eye Treatment
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Presbyopia is the need for reading glasses – it can now be treated with both laser and lens surgical options
Presbyopia Laser Eye Surgery
Laser treatment is now available for those who need glasses for reading
Do you find it hard to read menus in restaurants without putting on your reading glasses? Or how about the hassle of not being able to read your text messages quickly when you’re out and about?
If you have always had good vision and now find yourself over 40 and needing reading glasses, or if you have been wearing glasses for distance vision and now find you are losing your close up vision, you may be developing presbyopia.
Presbyopia is simply an unavoidable condition where the eye’s ability to focus on near objects diminishes as we get older and effects everyone by the age of 51.
presbyopia is the need for reading glasses – it can now be treated with both laser and lens surgical options
Recent developments have revolutionised what we can now offer patients who suffer from presbyopia and now need reading glasses.
Surgical treatments are now available to you, which can correct far vision (e.g. driving and television) as well as clear reading and even intermediate vision ranges such as a computer screen. The two main choices are:
The choice of procedure will depend on your age, prescription and personal preferences.
Focus Clinic is a specialist clinic for the treatment of age-related reading problems. Mr David Allamby, our chief surgeon, was the first to perform the pioneering Blended Vision procedure in the UK in January 2003. He has performed Blended Vision for longer than any other UK surgeon.
Contact us today on 0207 307 8250 to find out if you are suitable for presbyopia surgery for reading glasses or click the button below if you are interested in a consultation.
LASIK Blended Vision Treatment For Presbyopia
Laser eye surgery can help restore lost reading vision through an approach called Blended Vision, a procedure pioneered by our chief surgeon David Allamby in 2003. Blended Vision can be a very good option for those aged 45-65 and does not require a visit to the operating theatre. The whole procedure can be completed in the laser suite in around 10 minutes for both eyes.
Blended Vision can be a very good option for those aged 45-65 and does not require a visit to the operating theatre
Not everyone is suitable for Blended Vision, which can be determined at your consultation. If you are not suitable, or if you would prefer not to have the treatment, we can offer other presbyopia treatments such as lens replacement surgery.
How does Blended Vision work?
Laser eye surgery for reading glasses is done using a technique known as Blended Vision, where one eye (usually the dominant eye) is treated to fully sharpen your distance vision while the other eye is treated to correct your near vision. The brain then blends these two images together to give you clear vision for both near and far.
up to 90% of patients wearing reading glasses can be suitable for our Blended Vision option
If you are suitable for LASIK, it is likely you can also be a candidate for Blended Vision. Around 90% of presbyopic patients are potentially able to enjoy the benefits of Blended Vision, which will be determined at your consultation.
We can demonstrate the effect you will achieve with Blended Vision at your consultation, so you can decide if it is right for you.
determining your suitability for blending, and simulating the effect, is easily carried out at your consultation using a simple glass lens test
Around 10% of patients are not eligible due to limitations in how some of our brains are wired. These patients find it difficult to blend the images from each eye together. This ability to join images for far and near vision is something you appear to be born with, and does not change with age.
For those who have received Blended Vision, if necessary, the reading eye can be retreated in later years to keep up with any age-related eye changes. This can be done as a simple, walk-in laser eye surgery procedure which takes around 10 minutes.
Customised Treatment At Focus Clinics
Presbyopia is treated by either LASIK or LASEK surgery, depending on which is more suitable for the patient.
Our advanced laser, the Wavelight Allegretto™, can create a specific profile which allows the shape of the cornea to be changed to help improve the depth of focus of the eye. The result allows the eyes to ‘blend’ together and gives less ‘difference between the 2 eyes’ and less of a compromise in terms of visual quality. This treatment is adjusted to the individual needs of the patient and customised on an individual basis.
Understanding Presbyopia & Near Vision
Presbyopia is a normal part of the ageing process and will affect everyone. People who are experiencing the start of presbyopia often notice that their ‘arms are too short’ to read and they have to hold things further away to see them clearly.
Presbyopia typically becomes noticeable between age forty and fifty and progressively worsens through age sixty-five, at which point it stabilises. When presbyopia begins, people who already wear glasses may need bifocals or varifocals, and those who have never worn glasses will require reading glasses.
The loss of flexibility of the crystalline lens inside our eyes makes it more and more difficult to change focus and see close objects or reading material. Effectively, we have lost the ability to ‘zoom in’ on near objects.
this stiffening of the lens actually begins at birth, and the process steadily continues through each decade.
By the time we are 30 we have lost 50% of our focusing power. At the age of 45 we have lost approximately 85% and at this point, we begin to have symptoms of blurred near vision. We can initially compensate by holding objects further away or increasing illumination. When these manoeuvres are no longer sufficient we will need to wear reading glasses.
A common misconception is that presbyopia can be corrected by simply 'strengthening' the eye muscles. The fact is that the loss of focusing power is not due to muscle weakness but to the loss of flexibility in the crystalline lens.
Laser eye surgery can significantly improve symptoms of presbyopia by restoring the focusing power of the eye.
How much does Blended Vision laser eye surgery cost?
LASIK Blended Vision is a slightly more complex procedure than standard LASIK, and the treatment price reflects a certain increase in the amount of time we need to spend examining your scans, results and data, as well as the expertise needed to deliver great Blended Vision results.
Please visit our laser eye surgery prices page for more information on treatment price and payment plans.
If suitable, you may wish to finance the surgery and we have a variety of options. Please contact us on 0207 307 8250 for more details.
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
Vision after lens replacement surgery
The operation for refractive lens exchange surgery is essentially identical to cataract removal. In cataract surgery, the natural lens inside the eye has become somewhat opaque and the lens is being removed to restore vision lost to this impediment to clear sight. In RLE, the lens is clear without the changes found in cataract and is being replaced to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses, either for distance, reading, or both.
Your requirement for glasses or contacts after refractive lens exchange will depend on the choice of intraocular lens (IOL) inserted at the time of surgery – monofocal IOLs, with or without monovision, or premium multifocal lenses.
the operation for lens exchange surgery is essentially identical to cataract removal
In cataract surgery, the natural lens inside the eye has become somewhat opaque, and the lens is being removed to restore vision lost to this impediment to clear sight.
In RLE, the eye's natural lens is clear without the changes found in cataracts and is being replaced to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses, either for distance, reading, or both.
Your requirement for glasses or contacts after refractive lens exchange will depend on the choice of intraocular lens (IOL) inserted at the time of surgery – monofocal IOLs, with or without monovision, or premium multifocal lenses.
IOL choices for RLE
As with cataract surgery, there are several different types of IOLs that can be used in lens exchange surgery, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
The most common IOL used in RLE is the monofocal lens. Monofocal lenses provide good distance vision, but most patients will still need reading glasses for close work.
For those who do not want to rely on reading glasses, there are two main types of IOLs that can provide good distance and near vision – multifocal lenses and monovision.
With monovision, one eye is corrected for distance vision and the other for near vision. This can take some time to get used to, but many patients adjust quickly and find that they can function quite well with this type of vision.
Multifocal lenses are designed to provide good distance and near vision without the need for reading glasses. There are several different types of multifocal lenses available, and your surgeon will help you choose the one that is best for you.
The most important thing to remember is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to IOLs. The type of IOL that is best for you will depend on your individual eyesight needs and goals.
Book A Free Consultation for Your Laser Vision Correction Procedure
If you are interested in any of the vision correction procedures available at Focus Clinics, please contact us today to book a free consultation. One of our expert Opticians will be happy to discuss your options with you and answer any questions that you may have.
At Focus, we have an award-winning team of eye surgeons who are experienced in performing a range of vision correction procedures, including LASIK, Blended Vision, and Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) surgery. We use the latest technology and techniques to deliver the best possible results for our patients.
To book a free consultation, please contact us on 0207 307 8250 or fill in our online enquiry form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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To get a better idea of how we can help you, and also the different types of services we offer, book a consultation now.
FAQs
Eye lens surgery is a type of refractive surgery to correct vision. It is also known as lens replacement surgery. The natural lens of your eye helps you focus. During this surgery, your natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens.
Yes, laser eye surgery can correct Presbyopia and the need for reading glasses. The two most common procedures are LASIK and Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) surgery.
LASIK surgery can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It can also correct Presbyopia by creating a multifocal cornea.
RLE surgery involves removing the eye's natural lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens (IOL). There are different types of IOLs available, and your optician will advise you on the best option for you.
Yes, there are several types of surgery that can correct reading vision. The most common procedures are LASIK, Blended Vision, and Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE). Advanced LASIK procedures can also correct presbyopia using monovision or multi-focal techniques.
Yes, you can have laser eye surgery for presbyopia. This condition, which causes blurred near vision, can be corrected with LASIK procedures using monovision or multifocal contact lenses.
No, LASIK surgery does not speed up the need for reading glasses. In fact, LASIK can correct presbyopia and the need for reading glasses. Presbyopia is a condition that causes blurred near vision, and it is a natural part of the ageing process.
Laser eye surgery is a safe and effective way to correct vision. However, as with any surgery, there are some risks and potential side effects. These include:
• Dry eye
• Infection
• Inflammation
• Swelling
• Flap complications
• Halo
• Glare
• Night vision problems
Many of these risks are incredibly uncommon, but it is important to discuss the risks and potential side effects with your surgeon before having surgery.
Why Choose Us?
100% 20/20 vision
Focus Clinic has a remarkable 100% success rate for 20/20 vision. We know of no other clinic that has matched these results. There is a big difference between, for example, 98% and 100% success, especially if you are in the 2%.
10 year guarantee
Your 10 Year Guarantee means you can return at any time if you have additional questions on the quality of your vision. If you have distance vision correction for short-sight then any repeat laser eye treatments to correct a return of myopia in the first 10 years are included free of charge.*
Most trusted eye treatment clinic
We have the highest trust rating of any ‘eye treatment’ rated clinic, according to independent review site TrustPilot. With an outstanding 9.9 out of 10, when it comes to your eyes, choose the clinic that actual patients trust the most.
Customer Reviews
Afifa
Focus beat all their competitors by far.
Preet
I now have 20/20 vision and couldn't be happier.
Gillian
I can highly recommend the Blended Vision treatment and Focus.
Neal
Fantastic not having to scramble around in the morning.
100% SUCCESS RATE
10 YEAR GUARANTEE
#1 IN THE UK TRUSTPILOT RATING
CELEBRITIES CLINIC OF CHOICE