As we age, the natural lens in our eye becomes less flexible. This lack of flexibility compromises the eye's ability to switch from one focal point (objects at a distance) to another focal point (objects that are close). The practical effect of this loss of flexibility in the natural lens of the eye is that we lose our ability to read or see close objects without reading glasses or bifocals. This is called presbyopia.

In presbyopic eyes, the natural crystalline lens of the eye loses its ability to "accommodate," meaning its ability to switch from seeing objects at a distance (one focal point) to seeing near objects (second focal point). A result of being presbyopic is having to hold things farther away to read or a dependence on reading glasses or bifocals. Presbyopia usually begins affecting vision around age 40. By age 50, almost everyone has presbyopia.

If you think you may be presbyopic and are not comfortable wearing glasses there are several surgical procedures that may help to improve your vision. Click on the vision correction procedure below to learn if it may be right for you. Discuss these procedures with your eyecare professional to determine the best treatment for you. Lens Implants Conductive Keratoplasty