What are the options for vision correction after 40?
Posted by: Clear Vision Cataract & LASIK Center
You’ve had it! Enough of your glasses or contacts already! For more than 30 years you’ve been dealing with the daily grind of contact lens maintenance, or wiping the fog off your glasses on a cold morning. Or perhaps hitting 40 has resulted in glasses for the first time – reading glasses (arms getting too short, are they?) No matter your situation, you’ve finally reached the tipping point where you’re done dealing with the hassle and have begun exploring your options for restoring visual independence. But we have great news: in 2023 the options for correcting vision after 40 have never been better! Continue reading to learn more about your vision correction options after 40.
Vision Correction After 40, Option 1: Laser Vision Correction (LVC)
Laser vision correction (LVC) has been around for nearly 30 years with many millions of successful procedures performed worldwide. Beginning with a procedure known as photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), laser resurfacing of the eye has become more advanced than ever. Now known as advanced surface ablation (ASA), these procedures reshape the surface of the eye, which improves the optical power of the eye. This reduces or eliminates the need for glasses and contacts for distance vision (more on reading vision correction in a bit). LVC has advanced to include other procedures known as LASIK and LALEX (ex Zeiss SMILE) but don’t let the alphabet soup confuse you…these related procedures essentially do the same thing. They all reshape the cornea (front window of the eye) allowing for better distance vision. For those over 40, ASA, LASIK, and LALEX are still options to correct vision in the right candidate. Most LVC options are approved to correct far-sightedness, near-sightedness, and astigmatism. However, LVC cannot correct presbyopia (loss of near vision with age), but it can be done as a blended or monovision solution (one eye distance, one eye near) if requested by the patient. Or you may choose to wear OTC reading glasses if you simply desire to have better distance vision. All options are discussed in detail with you by the doctor, and will depend on if you are a candidate.
Vision Correction After 40, Option 2: Implantable Contact Lens (ICL)
Implantable contact lenses have been FDA approved for nearly 20 years. More recently, with the launch of Staar Surgical’s EVO ICL, this procedure is safer and more precise than ever before. With ICL, the cornea (surface of the eye) is not reshaped with laser, in fact no lasers are used at all! Instead, after numbing the eye, the surgeon carefully places a specially designed, semi-permanent contact lens behind the cornea. This revolutionary implant corrects distance vision and typically only needs to be removed years later when age-related cataracts develop. ICL is approved to correct myopia over 3 diopters, and astigmatism up to 4 diopters. ICLs cannot correct presbyopia (loss of near vision with age), but they can be placed as a monovision solution (one distance, one near) if requested by the patient. Or you may choose to wear OTC reading glasses if you simply desire to have better distance vision. All options are discussed in detail with you by the doctor, and will depend on if you are a candidate.
Vision Correction After 40 Option 3: Custom Lens Replacement (CLR)
For those who are 45-60, we often find that dysfunctional lens syndrome has taken over and patient often require both distance and reading glasses (or bifocals). If you are already wearing bifocals and/or approaching 60, then LVC or ICL often don’t make sense as a first-line vision correction option. Instead, we address the root of the vision problem: dysfunctional lens syndrome (DLS). DLS can also be thought of as early cataract syndrome, where the vision starts to change due to aging of the lens, but the lens changes haven’t progressed yet to be qualified for cataract surgery. With custom lens replacement (CLR), your dysfunctional lens is replaced with an advanced technology lens implant (IOL), which restores range and quality vision. If you choose CLR, you gain the added benefit of never needing cataract surgery. This procedure is also the only vision correction option after 40 where complete independence from glasses is possible (in the right candidate) through the use of multifocal IOL technology. This technology restores distance, midrange, and near vision withouth the need for glasses. We also have the option to use light-adjustable lens technology, and through the use of blended vision can also achieve great visual outcomes and glasses independence.
Summary: Vision Correction Options After 40
To summarize, people over age 40 most definitely have options to get rid of glasses and contacts! At Clear Vision Center, our goal is to customize our recommended treatment to the individual. Each of us has different eyes (not just the color of our eyes is different!), so you may not be a candidate for all options. If you’re thinking about vision correction after 40, give us a call and we can set up a complimentary consultation with our experienced vision correction surgeon. We will take pictures of your eyes, and go over your options.