Presbyopia is the age-related loss of near focusing ability caused by progressive stiffening of the natural crystalline lens. It affects virtually everyone by their mid-40s, and it is one of the most common reasons patients in this age group present for refractive consultation.
Laser eye surgery primarily reshapes the cornea and does not address the lens. While laser treatment can improve distance vision, most patients over 45 will still require reading glasses. For patients whose primary complaint is the loss of near vision, laser surgery alone rarely solves the problem they have actually come with.¹
ICL surgery preserves the natural lens and therefore does not directly treat presbyopia either. ICL at Blue Fin Vision® is used for younger presbyopic patients where the lens is still functioning adequately and the primary issue is a high refractive error. If presbyopia is the dominant symptom, the lens must be addressed directly.
Lens replacement surgery removes the ageing natural lens and replaces it with an artificial intraocular lens designed to provide functional vision across multiple distances. Modern multifocal and EDOF designs have demonstrated good outcomes for presbyopic patients seeking spectacle independence.²
Because presbyopia is fundamentally a lens problem, lens-based surgery is the most direct clinical response. At Blue Fin Vision®, once early lens dysfunction becomes the dominant factor in a patient’s symptoms, the conversation shifts toward lens replacement as the most logical long-term solution.³
References
- Sandoval HP, Donnenfeld ED, Kohnen T, Lindstrom RL, Potvin R, Nichamin LD, Lane SS. Modern laser in situ keratomileusis outcomes. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2016;42(8):1224–1234.
- Cochener B, Boutillier G, Lamard M, Guichaoua C. A comparative evaluation of a new generation of diffractive trifocal and extended depth of focus intraocular lenses. J Refract Surg. 2018;34(8):507–514.
- Fernández J, Rodríguez-Vallejo M, Martínez J, Tauste A, Pinazo-Durán MD. From presbyopia to cataracts: a refractive surgery perspective. J Ophthalmol. 2018;2018:4237136.
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- High Astigmatism: Laser, Toric ICL or Toric Lens?
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- Early Lens Dysfunction: When Laser May No Longer Be the Best Choice
- Enhancements After Laser, ICL or Lens Replacement
- Cataract Risk: Laser vs ICL vs Lens Replacement
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