It’s one of life’s milestones that we could all do without: That moment when we walk down the aisle at the drug store and not only see the stand of colorful presbyopia reading glasses, but actually stop to pick out a pair.
Once we’re over 40, it’s only a matter of time before those reading glasses become less of a fashion statement and more of a daily need. By the time we are in our 50s, most of us have several pairs sprinkled around the house (usually in places we can’t find them) just in case we need to read or look at something up close. If we’re especially organized, we even chain them around our necks so that they’re handy everywhere we go.
But wouldn’t it be nice to be unshackled from our reading glasses?
We can be, but first we have to understand what happens to our vision as we enter our golden years.
Presbyopia, often called “over-40 vision,” is the ocular condition that makes it difficult for us to read close print, see our cell phones, or see in dim light once we’re mature. Over time, the lenses of our eyes become stiff due to the aging process. Like a camera lens that is stuck in one place, our eyes are no longer able to focus on nearby objects. It is as natural as graying hair and wrinkles, and not a single one of us can escape it without help.
Unlike so many aspects of the aging process, however, we don’t have to live with presbyopia. Science and technology have come a long way, and there are now procedures, particularly laser and lens technologies, developed with presbyopia in mind.
In addition to Advanced LASIK, which can correct presbyopia through a process called monovision, Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) and Kamra inlay are relatively new refractive procedures commonly used to treat presbyopia. Though they are safe and effective, only a handful of refractive surgeons in the United States have invested in the training and technology to provide them for their patients.
Dr. Jason Brinton of Brinton Vision in Creve Coeur is one of the nation’s top ophthalmic surgeons, and is among only a handful of surgeons trained and certified in RLE and Kamra inlay—as well as five other state-of-the-art laser and refractive surgery techniques. Harvard-educated, he now dedicates some of his time to teach other surgeons how to perform these life-changing laser eye surgery options so that they can be available to more people who want to see all life has to offer.
If you would like to find out if you are a candidate for RLE, Kamra inlay, or LASIK in St. Louis, call Brinton Vision at 314.375.2020 or visit us online to schedule a comprehensive Brinton Vision Ocular Analysis at https://brintonvision.com/schedule/. We look forward to walking with you on your journey to visual freedom!
St. Louis LASIK surgeon Dr. Jason P. Brinton, MD is an internationally recognized specialist in the field of refractive surgery. He is a graduate of Harvard College, earned his medical doctorate from the Harvard Medical School, and is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He has been inducted to America’s Top Ophthalmologists by the Consumer Research Council of America, Leading Physicians of the World by the International Association of Healthcare Professionals, and Top Doctors in America by Castle Connolly. In 2015, he received global recognition as the recipient of the Visian ICL Young Ophthalmologist Award in Barcelona, Spain, and in 2016 was named Ocular Surgery News’ Premier Surgeon 300 Innovators in Refractive Cataract Surgery. In 2017, he was named in Top Doctors in St. Louis. He is a dedicated husband, father of four beautiful children, and is passionate about his life, his work, and service to others.