Somewhere between the ages of 40-45, you have trouble reading, writing, or working nearby. You avoid the text you are reading, you need more light and you feel tired or have a headache. It is a sign that you have entered a period of presbyopia (aging farsightedness), which is a natural process of aging of the eye, especially when the natural lens of the eye loses its elasticity and finds it harder to focus on nearby objects.
If you did not wear glasses before, you will start wearing reading glasses, and if you have already worn glasses for far, now you get another pair for near. If you work on a computer and it is located at a medium distance (between near and far), you will need a third pair of glasses, because the glasses for near are strong, and for far are weak for that distance.
In those moments, to avoid the inconvenience and wearing three pairs of glasses, you wonder what to do and what is the right solution for you? Are multifocal (progressive) glasses, multifocal contact lenses or the most modern solution – implantation of multifocal lenses?
Multifocal (progressive) glasses
Contains three corrective areas for all three distances. The invisible line between them allows a gradual, progressive, smooth transition from the distance view, through the middle distance, all the way to the close view.
It takes some time to get used to the new progressive glasses. It is necessary to wear them throughout the day, because taking them out and putting them on will slow down the adaptation period. Most importantly, you need to move your head up, right and down so that you can see clearly. If you do not feel comfortable and have a headache after 2-4 weeks of wearing them, consult an optician or ophthalmologist.
Multifocal contact lenses
There are several different types of contact lenses that can give you a sharp view of far, medium and near, even if you have astigmatism (cylinder). One type of multifocal contact lens contains the diopter for far away most of the lens surface, while the near vision segment is located at the central lower part of the lens. Another type of multifocal contact lens contains a series of concentric circles, with which the visual system constantly adjusts the focus to near and far. The correct type of them is determined by the shape of your cornea.
In contact lenses, it is very important to maintain proper hygiene, take them out at bedtime and watch how you put them back on, so as not to cause infection or erosion (scratch) on the cornea of the eye.
Multifocal intraocular lenses
With the advancement of technology, an ideal solution for aging diopters has been developed, which is the implantation of multifocal intraocular lenses. These lenses give you good vision at all three distances. The advantage of these intraocular lenses is that they are lifelong – they do not need to be hygienic or removed or put on.
They are implanted in your eye, i.e. the implantation is performed surgically – the natural lens is removed and replaced with an intraocular lifelong lens. If you have cataracts, the benefit of these lenses is that with one operation you will solve the problem with it and the diopter forever.
The benefits of installing multifocal lenses are:
- Lifetime vision at all distances (near, middle and far);
- You do not need two pairs of glasses (even three!) To be able to do something near and far at the same time;
- You do not need to take care of them or maintain good hygiene;
- They are suitable for people who have plus and minus diopters, presbyopia, and cataracts;
- There is no possibility of developing cataracts;
- Evening vision improves and haloes and reflections are reduced;
- The intervention lasts 10 minutes, local anesthesia is used and you go home the same day;
- You return to daily activities after a few days;
- Once they are installed, you do not feel them and you do not need to adjust them – they perform their function and the vision is clearer and the colors are more vivid.
In “Sistina Ophthalmology”, the operation with implantation of multifocal lenses is completely fast, painless, safe and effective, after which you go home with your eyes open!