Types of Lenses for the Aged/Presbyope

Presbyopia is a geriatric condition, one that is inescapable or inevitable unless perhaps you end up with a very high myope, which is a technicality that would be dealt with in the days to come but until then, what we need to know is that everyone single one of us would experience Presbyopia and no one can run away from that.

When we talk about Presbyopia we are basically looking at the point where your eye's accommodative power or ability to change its focus to enable you to read very clearly when objects are close or at reading distance. From the age of 40, we start to lose this ability until about age 70 when all that power would have gone away and we would need aid completely to be able to see or read near objects or prints clearly.

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Presbyopes tend to have different visual needs as compared to myopes hyperopes or even astigmatism. When a presbyope already has a refractive error for distance vision, this would have to be taken into consideration when considering aids for their near work, if they do have any form of deviations or binocular vision anomaly, they would all have to be considered in catering for their needs, this means that the presbyope cannot wear the general lens that everyone or the young ones may wear and be ok.

So then the question is, what are the options available to them and what benefits do they gain from these varying options? Stick around to find out...

• The Bifocals; These are very common and come in different shapes and sizes, We have the round types, the D types, the flat tops, etc. Bifocals are cheaper as compared to the other options to be discussed and may come in different tints or coatings. All lenses are now produced with Anti-reflective coating though, however, one has the liberty of choosing whether they would prefer photochromic coating in addition or transition coating.

There is also the option of the blue filter coating, which may come in the form of photochromic addition or transition addition, This may affect the rate at which the change in lens appearance quickly goes away when one is in and out of the sun. The more filters or coating, the higher the price range for your lens, and the higher the power of your prescription irrespective of whether you are a myope, hyperope, or astigmat, the higher the cost of your lens. Note that astigmatic powers tend to be more expensive as compared to myope and hyperopes though.

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• Progressive Lenses; These are the best ones on the market now and mostly what your Optometrist would recommend for you based on your visual needs and your ability to afford them. I talked about affordability because progressive lenses are more expensive than bifocal lenses although they offer more variety in terms of vision or visual need.

Progressive lenses cater to your near, intermediate, and far distance when it comes to your vision and also give you the options for photochromic or transition coating with or without a blue filter just as could be done for the bifocal lenses. Unlike the bifocal lenses which tend to have a demarcation on the lens signifying the near past and the distant past, the progressives do not have any demarcation which gives the same appeal as someone with a simple refractive error such as simple myopia.

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• Reading Glasses; and then there is this, the already-made reading glasses which come in quite handy for those who may not have any refractive errors or other visual needs except difficulties with reading. Just as its name suggests it is best suited for reading and for individuals who do not do much of any near work except to read.

Reading glasses are very limited because it has a smaller range of vision as compared to the other options and cannot be used for anything else except to read or do the designated near work after which it may have to be removed lest distance vision gets compromised.

You are at liberty to discuss your choice or options with your Optometrist so he may advise you based on his or her assessment, what would suit you best. Please note that the purpose of these writeups is not for self-care or medication but to educate and make your eye health your priority as well as make the work easier for your primary health care practitioner when it comes to explaining things to you.

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And so once again, I do hope that you learned a thing or two and that you enjoy the read, it is a pleasure serving you, thanks for your time, stay safe and I do wish you a blissful weekend. Cheers!