As experts in the field of visual health, we’re always watching the latest research to see what new developments are coming. There’s recently been some research that caught our eye. A very exciting new class of treatments is currently in clinical trials, and is likely to become widely available within the next few years. These are eye drops for presbyopia, which is the age-related loss of near vision that affects everyone beginning in their 40s.
What causes presbyopia?
People with presbyopia experience changes in the lens of the eye. The lens must change shape in order for the eye’s point of focus to change. As people get older, age-related changes in the lens and in the structures around it make it harder for the lens to alter its shape. The lens gradually loses the ability to focus up close. Presbyopia can interfere with important activities like reading, forcing people to wear reading glasses. Most people with presbyopia would like to be able to avoid the hassle of carrying around their reading glasses.
How can eye drops help?
Many people would never expect that eye drops could actually improve someone’s vision. It’s certainly a surprising idea. However, there are eye drops currently in development that could benefit those who have presbyopia.
One type of eye drops acts directly on the lens. The medication penetrates through the cornea, where it breaks down into substances that act directly on the lens itself to soften it. This helps to restore the ability of the lens to change shape, so that it can change the depth of focus.
Another type of eye drops acts not on the lens itself, but on the structures around the lens. The eye drops act to constrict the pupil, creating a “pinhole effect” that sharpens vision for many patients and improves the ability to see up close. The effect lasts for a few hours and then wears off, so the patient would need to put the drops in every day to achieve daily improvement of presbyopia. There are two different types of drops in this category that could reach the market within the next few years.
What are the other treatment options for presbyopia?
Although these eye drops are an exciting future prospect, they’re not available on the market quite yet. If you’re currently suffering from presbyopia, is there anything you can do now to improve your vision?
Reading glasses are the simplest solution. Some patients find them a hassle, and would prefer a different treatment. Another option is monovision contact lenses or monovision LASIK. With monovision, one eye is left untreated, and will be used for distance vision. The other eye is corrected for near vision. In most patients, the brain quickly adapts, and becomes able to switch seamlessly between the two eyes without the patient even noticing. However, there are a few patients who have trouble adapting to monovision and continue to find it disorienting.
Are you considering monovision LASIK San Diego?
Here at our clinic, we tell our patients considering monovision LASIK in San Diego that it’s a good idea to try out monovision with contact lenses first, before having a laser vision correction procedure. If you do well with monovision, then you can choose to make it more permanent with the convenience of laser vision correction. If you’re among the minority for whom it doesn’t feel right, then you can always go back to reading glasses – at least until eye drops become available!
If you’re considering having monovision LASIK in San Diego, please contact our office to make an appointment to learn more.
