How Does Lens Surgery Address Age-Related Vision Changes?

Some Age-Related Eye Conditions

Aging is inevitable, and for most of us, our eyes are one of the first places to show it. Maybe you’ve noticed the fine print on your phone getting fuzzier, or headlights at night scattering into a glare that wasn’t there before. These age-related vision changes can sneak up on you, turning sharp sights into a blurry hassle. Glasses and contact lenses might patch things up for a while, but they’re not a cure.

Common age-related eye conditions that reflect massive vision changes include:

1. Hyperopia: Popularly known as long-sightedness, hyperopia is a vision problem in which nearby objects look blurred, while the distant objects are more clearly visible. This occurs because the light entering the eye is focused behind the retina, rather than directly on it. Age is one of the traceable causes of this eye condition.
2. Astigmatism: This is a refractive error that affects how the eye focuses light, leading to blurred or distorted vision at various distances. Unlike myopia (near-sightedness) or hyperopia (far-sightedness), both of which result from irregularities in the shape of the eyeball, astigmatism is primarily caused by irregularities in the curvature of the cornea or the lens inside the eye.
3. Cataract: This is a common condition in older adults, and it occurs when the lens develops cloudy patches. Over time these patches usually become bigger causing blurry, misty vision and eventually blindness.
4. Presbyopia: This is an age-related condition in which the eye gradually loses its ability to focus on close objects. It typically begins around the age of forty and progresses over time. This happens because the natural lens of the eye becomes less flexible, making it harder to adjust focus for near tasks like reading, using a smartphone, or threading a needle.
5. Glaucoma: This is a common and serious eye condition that occurs when the optic nerve, responsible for transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain, becomes damaged. This damage is usually a result of increased pressure within the eye, known as intraocular pressure (IOP), caused by the build-up of fluid in the eye. People over sixty are at higher risk of developing glaucoma.

How Lens Surgery Addresses Age-Related Vision Changes

As we age, our eyesight naturally changes, often making it harder to focus on objects up close, see clearly in dim lighting, or maintain sharp vision overall. These changes can be frustrating and impact daily life.

Fortunately, lens surgery offers an effective and lasting solution. By replacing the eye’s natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL), these procedures can correct common age-related vision problems and restore clarity. Think of it like upgrading a worn-out camera lens for a crisp, modern one.

If you are wondering why lens surgery has been so recommended in recent times, here are a few benefits to consider:

1. Long-Lasting Solution: The implanted intraocular lens (IOL) is designed to be permanent and does not degrade over time, providing stable and lasting vision correction.
2. Prevention of Cataracts: Since the eye’s natural lens is replaced with an artificial one, cataracts can hardly develop in the future, preventing the need for cataract surgery later on.
3. Ease and Convenience: Patients dispense with the need for cases (to place their glasses) or solutions (to clean their contact lenses), as lens surgery allows them to enjoy daily life with ease and independence.

Optimax’s Revolutionary Approach To Lens Surgery Treatment

There are many types of lenses which suit different people, depending on your lifestyle and prescription. There are also a number of other factors which may affect your eligibility for lens surgery, such as the strength of your prescription, your pupil size, corneal thickness and any dryness of the eyes.

At Optimax, we offer a range of monofocal, multifocal or trifocal lenses. These allow you to have sharp vision for multiple distances, often eliminating the need for reading glasses. Here are some of the lens-based procedures we offer at Optimax:

1. Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE): Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is a surgical procedure commonly used to treat presbyopia, hyperopia (farsightedness), and other refractive errors. In RLE, the eye's natural lens is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to improve vision. The three main types of IOLs used in RLE are monofocal, extended depth of focus (EDOF), and multifocal.
2. ICL Surgery: ICL refers to Implantable Collamer Lens and the surgical procedure that involves implanting the thin, biocompatible lens inside the eye to correct refractive errors. The ICL is positioned in front of your eye’s natural lens and behind the iris. With ICL Surgery, the natural lens remains in place, so the procedure is reversible, should your visual requirements change.
3. Cataract Surgery: This procedure involves removing your eye's natural, clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial one. It begins with the administration of local anaesthesia to numb the eye. A small incision is made in the cornea, allowing the surgeon to remove the cloudy natural lens affected by the cataract using ultrasound or laser technology. An artificial intraocular lens (IOL) is then implanted to replace the removed lens.

These treatments can correct a range of vision defects, including myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia.

Over the past three decades, we have built a solid reputation for delivering high-quality care and achieving outstanding results for our patients. From advanced diagnostic tools to state-of-the-art surgical equipment, we ensure that patients receive the highest standard of care at every stage of their treatment journey. We have multiple clinics across the UK, so you’ll be sure to find a location that’s close to you. We also believe that our relationship extends well beyond the moment you leave our clinic after your surgery.

To find out whether you are suitable for lens surgery, book a consultation at the Optimax clinic nearest to you. When you walk in, we will subject you to a suitability assessment test. This assessment offers a comprehensive evaluation of whether you are a suitable candidate for vision correction procedures. Our team of highly-trained professionals will guide you through each stage of the consultation, explaining the options available for correcting any vision impairments. During your consultation, the best lenses and your options are explained to you.

If you have any enquiries about lens surgery at Optimax, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We are more than happy to discuss queries with you over the phone (0800 093 1110) or email (enquiry@optimax.co.uk).