logo
How do you correct presbyopia ?

A question that we did not even ask 20 years ago, as glasses were the only option and something that everyone will have to wear from a certain age. Contact lenses have since arrived but are only suitable for 3% of presbyopia cases. The present day surgical techniques:
- Laser correction by « lasik » from 40 years old
- Intraocular lens implants from 55 years old

Intraocular lens implants

From the age of 55 intraocular lens implants can be considered.

In the case of cataracts or even just in the early stages, this treatment is recommended.

This technique has been employed for over 30 years: The crystallin, which has become less transparent, is replaced with an implant. Recent methods use multi-focus or accommodative implants, enabling clear vision both near and far. A large majority of the patients will never again need glasses .

In the absence of cataracts the placement of implants can be offered to certain patients who don’t manage well with lenses and who don’t wish to wear glasses.

These patients must be motivated and prepared to change their relatively clear natural crystallin for an implant, in the knowledge that some years later their blurred crystallin would render this intervention necessary. In these cases we are anticipating the cataract and the future requirement to operate.

Patients are enthusiastic about the results but the decision to undertake such preventative surgery must be well informed and carefully considered.

Advantages

- The intervention is ambulatory and undertaken in a Clinique under local anaesthetic administered by eye drops.
- Recuperation is quick, often the next day.
- The two eyes are operated on a few days apart.

This technique proves itself in hindsight; it gives an excellent result and a good long term stability. It essentially offers a return to natural vision without glasses.

Making us forget that we have worn them for tens of years.

Inconveniences

- This method is not suitable for everybody and must be assessed case by case.

- The complications are exceptional : Eye infection, retinal detachment, poor night vision and halos.