What lenses are available to correct presbyopia?

Presbyopia is essentially the ageing process of the lens. The lens becomes stiff and thicker as we get older and that’s what leads us to need reading glasses and is known as presbyopia.

To correct that with lenses in the eye the best way is to use a multifocal or bifocal lenses. We have tried in the past to use lenses that will move so that the muscles of the eye will move the lens. And that’s a so-called accommodating lens, but they really haven’t been effective.  So although theoretically they might work, in practice they don’t work because the actually don’t move within the eye. The eye muscle can’t move the lens.

So the alternative is to use a multifocal lens. And there are many types of multifocal lenses available and each has different strengths. This is where the skills of the surgeon in interpreting what the patient’s requirement is, what the scans of the eye show, comes into play in deciding what lens is suitable for this particular patient’s eye and that particular patient’s lifestyle.

More about Robert Morris

Rob Morris is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at The Grange Eye Consultants. His special expertise is in cataract and refractive surgery, including Refractive Lens Exchange, and adult squint. He has over 30 years experience in treating people with eye problems. Rob Morris founded Grange Eye Consultants to manage the increasing demand for more complex refractive surgery. He leads clinical trials investigating novel eye treatments. He is currently Medical Director at Optegra Eye Hospitals.