Presbyopia Go Back

Presbyopia refers to the age-related loss of near vision. It is a natural process that begins in the mid-40s and results from a change in the elasticity of the lens inside the eye. As people are living longer and becoming more dependent on technology, there is an increasing demand for interventions that can provide people with the convenience of being free from glasses. The experienced surgeons available at Wollongong Refractive Laser Eye Institute offer a range of laser eye surgery options to suit most people

Refractive laser

PresbyLASIK is a laser procedure that reshapes the cornea to extend the depth of focus of the eye. It involves the creation of a corneal flap that is lifted to allow treatment of the underlying corneal tissue. While this procedure provides good quality vision, it provides functional near vision, meaning that you are likely to require reading glasses for small print following the procedure. Suitability for this procedure is dependent on the anatomy of your eye. For those who are not suitable, i.e. those with high scripts or thin corneas, other surgical options are available.

Refractive lens exchange

Refractive lens exchange is a good option for people who have strong prescriptions, thin corneas, or who are approaching the age of cataract development (+60 years). It involves an inpatient procedure whereby the natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial implant. For refractive purposes, the two main designs of lens implant available are multifocal and extended depth of focus (EDOF) lenses. Multifocal lenses split incoming light to allow the eye to focus on distant, intermediate and near objects, while EDOF lenses extend the depth of focus by "stretching" incoming light. Lens selection is a mutual decision made between the patient and the surgeon; while multifocal lenses generally offer a higher degree of spectacle independence compared to EDOF lenses, they are more likely to cause visual symptoms such as glare and haloes, and a reduction in contrast sensitivity. It is therefore vital to have an in-depth discussion with your surgeon in order to decide which lens type is most likely to suit your lifestyle and meet your expectations.

If you are wanting to be free of your glasses and are interested in learning more about the treatment options that we offer, please feel free to contact us on 4263 0522.

Vivity EDOF intraocular lens

"I couldn’t be happier…I no longer need glasses for reading" – Joanne received PresbyLASIK "I am very much looking forward to having my left eye done as well…I have already recommended A/Prof Agarwal to my neighbour" – Briony received the Vivity EDOF lens