April 18, 2024

Getting Older? Notice Changes in Your Eyesight?

Dr. Mark Whitten

Dr. Mark Whitten of Whitten Laser Eye asks: Have you noticed some changes in your vision? Are you over 45 and find it more difficult to see up close? Have you had to readjust the font size on your mobile device? How many pairs of over-the-counter reading glasses do you have stashed around your house, office and car?

You are not alone, Dr. Whitten says. You have presbyopia.

Presbyopia is part of the natural aging process of the eye. Technically, presbyopia is the loss of the eye’s ability to change its focus to see objects that are near.  Between the ages of 40-45 the eye begins to lose flexibility. Presbyopia is not a disease, but a treatable eye condition. The most common treatment for presbyopia is reading glasses.

Whether these are bought over the counter or professionally prescribed, glasses have been the prevalent tool to allow people to see up close clearly.   With modern technology and surgical advancements, more options have become available over the years. Premium lens implants are a popular option for those who are ready to have cataract surgery. This advanced technology lens provides multiple zones of vision in one lens, providing clear vision at all distances.  This lens replaces the clouded natural lens during cataract surgery.  Many people are not quite ready for cataract surgery, but still want a solution for presbyopia.

Refractive lens exchange is another option — this is very similar to cataract surgery, as the same natural lens is replaced. It is often called a clear lens extraction because a cataract has yet to form, or be mature enough for removal. This procedure is very successful. And a new revolutionary procedure is now available. Whitten Laser Eye is pleased to be the first in the Washington, D.C., area to perform the procedure.

The KAMRA inlay sits in the first few layers of the eye known as the cornea. Smaller and thinner than a contact lens, the inlay is a mini-ring with an opening in the center. By using this pinhole effect, the inlay focuses light coming into your eye. This restores near vision while maintaining your distance vision. KAMRA is an in-office procedure and is generally performed on one eye. It takes about 15 minutes and most people can read better within a day, Dr. Whitten says.

With the KAMRA inlay, you are able to see up close again. Read text messages, a computer screen, or the time on your watch, without reading glasses. The KAMRA inlay has been used with great success in Canada and Europe for many years and was approved in April 2015 by the FDA. Whitten Laser Eye is pleased to offer every safe and effective solution to help patients enjoy great, clear vision.

Take a reading vision self-test here.

Convenient, state-of-the-art offices are in Maryland and Virginia. To schedule a complimentary reading vision or LASIK consultation, click here or call 301-678- 9969 or 1-877-852-2020.

Dr. Whitten has more than 30 years of experience and is one of only three surgeons in the country to have performed more than 150,000 laser vision correction procedures. He was one of the first surgeons to perform the groundbreaking LASIK procedure. Whether LASIK, cataract or reading vision, a patient’s eyes are in good hands with Dr. Whitten. Join the ranks of celebrities and star athletes, like Tiger Woods, who have trusted Dr. Whitten.

Learn more about Dr. Mark Whitten and LASIK eye surgery on his Leader Page.

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