Common Vision Problems

Presbyopia is the normal aging process of the eye, where its natural lens loses some of the flexibility that allows it to fine tune the focusing of light. This usually occurs between the ages of 40 and 50. Everyone experiences presbyopia at some point as they get older, resulting in nearsighted people to begin wearing bifocals in their forties, and those who never needed glasses before may require reading glasses.

The one advantage to mild myopia (nearsightedness) once you begin to be presbyopic is that you may be able to remove your glasses to read (your myopia effectively counteracts your presbyopia). If you choose to have laser vision correction, you will lose this ability. Your cornea will focus light correctly, which will force you to need reading glasses for small print, like every other normally sighted person with presbyopia.

Because laser vision correction is designed to reshape your cornea and does not effect the lens of your eye, it can not correct presbyopia. However, there are currently many procedures being tested to correct presbyopia. If you would like more information about these procedures, please consult your eye care provider.

Every patient and prescription at Dr. Brian Berliner & Associates is looked at individually to decide what is best for them. Our doctors are very prudent and thorough in deciding whether you are a good candidate for laser vision correction and will be happy to discuss the potential outcome and risks involved for a patient with your particular prescription.