Presbyopia and its surgical management

Presbyopia is defined as a progressively diminished ability to focus on near objects. It is derived from the Greek word presbys, which literally means ‘trying to see as old men do’.

Traditionally it has been managed with a spectacle correction with either near addition glasses (readers), bifocal or varifocal spectacles. More recently the use of multifocal contact lenses has gained popularity.

Surgical management

For those in search of reduced spectacle or contact lens dependence (or complete independence), several surgical techniques have been introduced. These include corneal laser vision correction (monovision or multifocal corneas), corneal inlays and refractive lens exchange (RLE) employing the implantation of a multifocal intraocular lens. The choice of treatment depends on an individual’s lifestyle, visual demands, budget and the availability of surgical expertise and instrumentation.