Reading Glasses Lasik - Amy Levin

Y
ou’re at a restaurant, and
suddenly, you can’t read the
menu. If you’re over 40, you’re
probably developing presbyopia, which
is Greek for “old eyes.” And despite
its depressing name, it’s inevitable (or
natural, depending on whether you
see the glass as half empty or half full).
“Everyone is going to develop presbyopia
at some point,” says Dr. James Salz, a
clinical professor of ophthalmology at
the University of Southern California and
spokesperson for the American Academy
of Ophthalmology.
Your next move, after squinting
at the wine list, may be to make an
appointment with an ophthalmologist.
He or she may recommend reading
glasses. But if you find the usual
selection dowdy and depressing, don’t
despair. You needn’t morph into your
grade school librarian, complete with a
chain around your neck, just yet.
Lasik surgery, which millions of
Americans turn to each year for their
distance vision, can help presbyopia
sufferers. First, consult with a top-notch
doc—getting a recommendation for a
banish boring
Lasik surgeon isn’t like surfing the web
for a sushi place. “It’s good to get a
recommendation not from a newspaper
or a friend, but from an ophthalmologist
who doesn’t do the surgery himself,” Salz
says. “You have to be careful. Some of
these big centers are only interested in
signing people up for surgery. You have
to find someone who is going to spend
time with you.” Once you’ve found a
surgeon, here’s what to discuss.
Basic LASIK
“The most basic form (of Lasik surgery
for presbyopia) is monovision, when
one eye is for near and one eye is
for distance,” says Dr. Kerry Assil of
the Assil Eye Institute in Beverly
Hills, Calif. In other words, your nondominant eye is made more nearsighted
so you can see close up; that’s your
reading vision. Your dominant eye will
continue to focus on objects farther
away. The idea is that when you open
both your eyes, you’ll see clearly,
whether you’re watching TV or reading.
Because of potential adjustment
problems, including issues with depth
perception, fatigue and blurriness, you’ll
want to test the concept out before
going under the laser. “The best way to
decide if you can tolerate it is to demonstrate it with contacts,” Salz says. If
you do get surgery and can’t handle the
change, monovision is reversible. Prior
Lasik patients can also get monovision.
Future Vision
The field of Lasik surgery for
presbyopia is quickly developing and
new procedures are aimed at eliminating
some of the adjustment problems
associated with monovision. Other
surgeries for presbyopia include Presby
Lasik (which is currently only available
overseas). During this procedure, the
corneas of both eyes are re-shaped to be
able to see both near and far.
Assil developed another technique
he calls “reading vision Lasik.” With this
more customized technique, the corneas
are also re-shaped, but the procedure is
tailored to modify the amount of near
vision you have. Assil says the technique
does not need FDA approval because it
uses already-approved technologies.
Bring your options for better eyesight into focus.
By Amy Levin-Epstein
Glasses provided by Eyebobs Eyewear
Magnify Your Style
If reading glasses are the best option for your presbyopia,
don’t despair. There are an abundance of Web sites that showcase the most stylish, fashion-forward
spectacles, so you’ll never have to give boring displays another glance.
• Anthropologie.com
Known for its boho chic clothing, Anthropologie also makes
fashionable frames. Click on
“Jewelry and Accessories”
to browse the options. And
because they’re only $28, you
might want to buy a few pairs
and switch off, depending on
your mood or outfit.
• Zappos.com
Renowned as the best thing for
shoe shoppers since the high
heel, Zappos also sells elegant
eyewear. Search for “Glasses”
and “Eyewear,” and you’ll be
able to choose from brands
such as Betsey Johnson and
Kate Spade, in a variety of
frame shapes and prices.
• Visacuity.com
Although this more rudimentary site doesn’t have a
super-simple search engine,
it is full of funky frames as
well as practical solutions.
We love the Pocket Eyes
Folding Reading Glasses,
which should fit easily into
your pocket.
• Eyebobs.com
This online retailer specializes
in “eyewear for the irreverent
and slightly jaded.” Browse
dozens of colors and
styles that can accessorize
with head-turning attitude.
Available in quarter-strength
increments, every pair comes
with a protective case.