Aging of the lens impacts how well we see up close

When we reach our forties and beyond, we often find ourselves having to hold reading material further away in order to see. This condition is called presbyopia, and is progressive until our fifties. Presbyopia is often attributed to the lens losing its ability to change shape and becoming thicker, like a camera that is unable to focus up close.

The lens also becomes cloudy over time

While the lens in our eye becomes thicker and more rigid with age, it also accumulates protein and slowly becomes cloudy. We often see these changes in our late fifties and the clouding of the lens later prevents us from seeing clearly. This is called a cataract, and can be treated with cataract surgery.

In cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is replaced with a new lens. The lens technology has come a long way, and many people who have worn glasses their entire lives enjoy newfound freedom from glasses after cataract surgery.

A refractive lens exchange is similar procedure to cataract surgery, and can be performed to treat presbyopia and hyperopia long before the lens becomes cloudy. This also prevents cataracts from forming, so we can enjoy vision as free from glasses and contact lenses as long as possible.