Causes and Risk Factors for Myopia and Presbyopia

Author : Nishant Sherkhane | Published On : 17 Apr 2024

There are several factors that can increase the chances of developing myopia or presbyopia. Genetics play a major role - if your parents had these conditions, you are more likely to as well. Spending long hours focusing on close tasks like reading or using digital devices without giving your eyes much breaks can contribute to nearsightedness, especially in children and teens. Likewise, getting older naturally increases the risk for presbyopia as the eye's natural lens loses elasticity over time, around the age of 40-45 years. Other risk factors include ethnicity (myopia is more common in Asians), gender (females tend to be more nearsighted), and underlying eye conditions. High levels of education have also been linked to higher rates of myopia.

Treatment Options for Managing Myopia

Some options for treating Myopia And Presbyopia Treatment include eyeglasses, contact lenses, orthokeratology, and refractive surgery. Regular eyeglasses with the proper prescription can effectively correct the vision for most degrees of myopia. Contact lenses are another non-surgical option that are convenient for active lifestyles or those who do not want to deal with glasses. Orthokeratology utilizes special rigid gas permeable contact lenses worn overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea and reduce myopia. For severe cases that do not respond well to other options or those wanting glasses/contacts-free vision, refractive surgeries like LASIK and LASEK can permanently correct nearsightedness by reshaping the cornea using excimer laser. Pharmaceutical options are also being researched for slowing the progression of myopia in children.

Managing Presbyopia with Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses

Presbyopia can be effectively managed with bifocal, progressive, or multilayer lenses in eyeglasses or contact lenses. Bifocals have two separate optical zones, one for distance and one for reading, separated by a visible line. Progressive lenses seamlessly transition between different optical powers from top to bottom without a visible line. Contact lenses for presbyopia come in monovision, bifocal, or multifocal designs. Monovision aims to make one eye better for distance and the other for near tasks. Bifocal contact lenses essentially split vision like glasses. Multifocal contact lenses have several optical zones to aid all ranges of vision. Newer digital lenses and laser treatment options are also being researched. Reading glasses are suitable for occasional near work.

Refractive Lens Exchange for Presbyopia

Refractive lens exchange (RLE) is a surgical procedure to treat presbyopia by removing the cloudy natural lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens (IOL) implant. This essentially ‘resets’ the eye to a youthful state and eliminates the need for reading glasses by restoring the ability to focus on close objects. It allows both distance and near vision to be achieved without glasses or contacts. Various types of multifocal and accommodating IOLs are available to provide a full range of clear vision. RLE carries the usual risks of cataract surgery like infection, bleeding, refractive surprise etc. The results are generally stable and satisfying for most patients. It provides a permanent alternative to glasses and contacts. Follow up care and lens options should be thoroughly discussed with your ophthalmologist.

Managing myopia and presbyopia involves lifestyle modifications as well as optical and refractive options tailored to each individual's needs, risks, priorities, and tolerance. Early diagnosis and prevention is key for slowing myopia progression in children. Consultation with an eye care professional can help determine the most suitable treatment approach. Continued advancements also promise more affordable and accessible remedies in the future.

Get more insights on Myopia And Presbyopia Treatment