What Is Presbyopia? Understanding Age-Related Vision Changes

Your once-sharp vision blurs when you read a menu or check your phone. You stretch your arms to hold the text farther away, but it doesn't help. Sound familiar? These are classic signs of presbyopia, a common age-related vision change that affects nearly everyone over 40.

Presbyopia can sneak up on you, making it easy to ignore at first — until suddenly, fine print becomes a frustrating struggle.

At InVision Eye Care in Lakewood, NJ, our experienced ophthalmologists and optometrists specialize in presbyopia solutions backed by decades of experience. We provide customized care under one roof, making managing eye health easier for patients in Ocean County, Monmouth County, and all of New Jersey.

Why Does Presbyopia Happen?

Presbyopia occurs because the natural lens inside your eye loses flexibility over time. When you're younger, the lens easily changes shape to focus on near and far objects.

As you age, it stiffens, making it harder to see up close. This loss of focusing power isn't due to disease or injury—it's simply a natural part of aging. Common symptoms include:

• Difficulty viewing small print
• Eye strain and headaches when doing close-up tasks
• Needing brighter lighting while reading
• Holding books and menus farther away to see clearly

The good news? There are effective solutions for presbyopia that can restore your ability to see up close. These include:

Glasses and Contact Lenses

For many people, prescription reading glasses or progressive lenses offer the easiest fix. If you already wear glasses, bifocal or multifocal lenses allow clear vision at multiple distances. Multifocal contact lenses are also available.

Monovision LASIK/PRK

With monovision LASIK/PRK, our eye surgeons correct one eye for distance and the other for close-up vision. The brain adapts over time, helping you see clearly at both distances without glasses.

Monovision With Contact Lenses

Contact lens wearers can opt for monovision lenses, in which one eye has a distance prescription, and the other has one for near vision. However, many people find monovision contacts frustrating and inconvenient.

Surgical Solutions

Corneal inlays are a surgical solution for presbyopia. This procedure involves placing small implants inside the cornea to improve vision by increasing depth of focus. However, our expert doctors are not big fans of corneal inlays. They may cause complications such as glare, halos, and reduced contrast sensitivity. Many patients eventually request removal, which leaves them looking for a solution again.

Vuity Eye Drops

Vuity eye drops are a newer option many patients love for convenience. These FDA-approved prescription eye drops temporarily improve near vision in adults with presbyopia, with effects lasting around six hours. They work by contracting the pupil to enhance the depth of focus, allowing you to see clearly without glasses or contacts.

Presbyopia Treatment in Lakewood, NJ

If reading feels frustrating or you're constantly squinting at your phone, it's time to consider presbyopia treatment options at InVision Eye Care in Lakewood, NJ. Our talented doctors offer customized solutions to keep your vision sharp. Call us at 732-210-0140 to schedule your appointment with any of our experienced doctors.