Presbyopia publications

Presbyopia is common, impacting around two billion people worldwide and is on the rise. Despite this, there are various knowledge gaps and differing approaches taken by researchers and clinicians when addressing presbyopia.

The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) Continued Learning Evidence-based Academic Report (CLEAR) presbyopia initiative, under the direction of professors James Wolffsohn, Philip Morgan and Shehzad Naroo, alongside around 80 experts from around the globe, set out the goal of producing global consensus evidence-based reports on all aspects relating to presbyopia. These eight eagerly awaited reports, are being published in the peer-review journal of the BCLA Contact Lens and Anterior Eye (CLAE) during 2024. 

The topics include:

1. BCLA CLEAR Presbyopia definitions¹ – panel chairs
2. Mechanism and optics² – Leon Davies
3. Epidemiology and impact³ – Maria Markoulli
4. Evaluation and diagnosis⁴ – James Wolffsohn
5. Management with spectacles and contact lenses⁵ – Philip Morgan
6. Management with corneal techniques⁶ – Jennifer Craig
7. Management with scleral and pharmaceutical techniques⁷ – Shehzad Naroo
8. Management with intraocular lenses⁸ – Christina Schnider

It is true that, until now, there has not been a standardised, universally accepted definition of presbyopia, so for the group responding to this need was the perfect starting point.

The BCLA CLEAR presbyopia authors have agreed that presbyopia: “Occurs when the physiologically normal age-related reduction in the eye’s focusing range reaches a point that, when optimally corrected for far vision, the clarity of vision at near is insufficient to satisfy an individual’s requirements.”¹

Table 1 (shown above) provides a handy overview of other relevant terms associated with presbyopia and figure 1 illustrates treatment options. To support practising ECPs, the key relevant findings from the publications will be summarised in an upcoming CPD accredited series with Optician and build further on the success of the previous BCLA CLEAR contact lens series. These articles will complement the well-received presentations delivered at the Optometry Tomorrow incorporating BCLA Focus conference early this year (figure 2) and will be edited by Neil Retallic and Dr Debarun Dutta.

The original papers are open access and available at BCLA CLEAR Presbyopia: Definitions - Contact Lens and Anterior Eye. Also with the QR code below.

The featured articles will look to cover everything the optical profession needs to know about presbyopia, enhance the readers’ understanding of how to provide the best evidence-based care to those with presbyopia and keep them updated on the latest thinking in this evolving field.

BCLA CLEAR Presbyopia was facilitated by the BCLA, with financial support by way of educational grants for collaboration, publication and dissemination provided by Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, EssilorLuxottica, and Johnson & Johnson Vision. 

• Neil Retallic is an executive board member at the BCLA.
• Debarun Dutta is a council member at the BCLA.

References

1. Wolffsohn JS, Naroo SA, Bullimore MA, et al. BCLA CLEARPresbyopia: Definitions. Contact lens & anterior eye : the journalof the British Contact Lens Association. 2024:102155.
2. Davies LN, Biswas S, Bullimore M, et al. BCLA CLEAR presbyopia:Mechanism and optics. Contact lens & anterior eye : the journal of the British Contact Lens Association. 2024:102185.
3. Markoulli M, Fricke TR, Arvind A, et al. BCLA CLEARPresbyopia: Epidemiology and impact. Contact lens & anterioreye : the journal of the British Contact Lens Association.2024:102157.
4. Wolffsohn JS, Berkow D, Chan KY, et al. BCLA CLEARPresbyopia: Evaluation and diagnosis. Contact lens & anterioreye : the journal of the British Contact Lens Association.2024:102156.
5. Morgan PB, Efron N, Papas E, et al. BCLA CLEAR Presbyopia:Management with contact lenses and spectacles. Contact lens& anterior eye : the journal of the British Contact Lens Association.2024:102158.
6. Craig JP, Barsam A, Chen C, et al. BCLA CLEAR Presbyopia:Management with corneal techniques. Contact lens & anterioreye : the journal of the British Contact Lens Association.2024:102190.
7. Naroo SA, Woods CA, Gil-Cazorla R, et al. BCLA CLEARPresbyopia: Management with scleral techniques, lens softening,pharmaceutical and nutritional therapies. Contact lens &anterior eye: the journal of the British Contact Lens Association.2024:102191.
8. Schnider C, Yuen L, Rampat R, et al. BCLA CLEAR presbyopia:Management with intraocular lenses. Contact Lens andAnterior Eye. 2024Schnider C, Yuen L, Rampat R, et al. BCLACLEAR presbyopia: Management with intraocular lenses.Contact lens & anterior eye: the journal of the British Contact LensAssociation. 2024:102253