Presbyopia Treatment
Presbyopia doesn’t arrive all at once—it shows up gradually in everyday moments. Reading a text becomes harder in dim light. Menus take longer to focus. Fine print feels more demanding than it used to. This natural, age-related change in vision affects nearly everyone over time and is one of the most common reasons adults explore vision correction after 40. At Skyline LASIK, we offer advanced surgical options designed specifically for presbyopia, helping patients in Colorado Springs and surrounding areas reduce their reliance on reading glasses and regain visual confidence in daily life.
What is Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is a natural age-related condition that affects your ability to focus on objects up close. Unlike nearsightedness or farsightedness, which are caused by the shape of your cornea or eyeball, presbyopia occurs because the crystalline lens inside your eye gradually loses its flexibility over time.
When you’re young, your eye’s lens is soft and flexible, allowing it to change shape easily to focus on objects at any distance. As you age, the proteins in your lens become denser and less elastic. This process begins around age 40 and progresses gradually through your 60s. By the time you reach your mid-40s, most people notice that their near vision has become noticeably blurry.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, presbyopia affects nearly everyone and is a universal part of the aging process. It’s not a sign of disease or weakness in your eyes, but rather a normal biological change that happens to all of us.
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What is Presbyopia?
American Academy of Ophthalmology
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Presbyopia Symptoms
Symptoms of presbyopia typically include:
Presbyopia symptoms typically begin in the early to mid-40s and gradually worsen over time. Common signs include:
- Difficulty reading small print or seeing close objects clearly
- Holding reading materials, phones, or menus farther away to see them
- Eye strain, blurred vision, or headaches when doing close work or reading
- Needing brighter lighting when reading or performing detailed tasks
- Difficulty focusing on nearby objects, especially in low light
- Fatigue when doing prolonged near vision tasks like computer work
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Presbyopia
National Eye Institute
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If you’ve already had LASIK or PRK surgery in your 20s or 30s, you may still develop presbyopia in your 40s. This is because those procedures correct the cornea’s shape but don’t prevent the natural aging of your eye’s lens. Many patients who had perfect vision after LASIK are surprised to discover they need reading glasses in their 40s, even though their distance vision remains excellent.
Presbyopia Treatment Options
Presbyopia happens to everyone, but that doesn’t mean everyone should treat it the same way. At Skyline LASIK, we recognize the uniqueness of each person’s lifestyle and vision requirements. We believe in offering personalized treatment options, ensuring that every patient discovers the solution that best aligns with their needs and lifestyle.
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
Refractive Lens Exchange is one of the most effective surgical solutions for presbyopia, especially for patients over 40. RLE involves replacing your eye’s natural lens with a premium intraocular lens (IOL) implant to improve vision at all distances.
RLE is an identical procedure to cataract surgery, except that it’s performed for elective reasons in patients who don’t have cataracts but wish to improve their vision. The biggest advantage of having RLE surgery is that you won’t need cataract surgery in the future, and you can enjoy the benefits of premium IOLs for decades.
We offer a wide range of IOL options, allowing us to fully customize each patient’s vision correction during refractive lens exchange. This means we can correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism, as well as presbyopia, giving our patients their best opportunity to see clearly without eyeglasses or contacts.
Premium IOL options include:
- Trifocal IOLs that provide clear vision at Distance, intermediate and near
- Extended depth of focus IOLs provide clear vision at Distance, excellent intermediate vision and a functional near vision.
- Both Trifocal and Extended depth of focus IOLs come in Toric for those patients with astigmatism
Monovision LASIK and PRK
Monovision, sometimes called blended vision, involves correcting one eye for distance vision and the other for near vision. In most people, the brain naturally adapts to combine both images to create a clearer view at a wide range of distances.
Monovision is most commonly used for patients electing to have LASIK or PRK performed to correct their vision. Monovision can also be done during RLE surgery when trifocal IOLs aren’t a good fit for a patient. Many patients find monovision to be a natural and effective solution that allows them to function without reading glasses for most daily activities.
Corrective Eyewear
The most common solution for presbyopia is corrective eyewear like over-the-counter readers. Most patients elect to correct their near vision with readers after having vision correction surgery if they feel monovision or RLE isn’t right for them. Options include:
- Reading glasses for near vision tasks
- Bifocals for simultaneous distance and near correction
- Progressive lenses (no-line bifocals) for seamless vision at all distances
- Multifocal contact lenses for those who prefer contacts
LASIK and PRK with Presbyopia
While LASIK & PRK surgery is known for effectively correcting common vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, it’s important to understand its role in relation to presbyopia. LASIK & PRK reshapes the cornea to correct refractive errors, but it does not prevent or correct presbyopia, which is a natural aging process of the eye’s lens.
Patients who undergo LASIK or PRK in their 20s or 30s may enjoy clear vision at all distances, but this does not prevent the development of presbyopia in their mid-40s. As the lens inside the eye ages and becomes less flexible, even those who have had LASIK or PRK will experience the typical symptoms of presbyopia, such as difficulty focusing on close objects.
For individuals considering either LASIK or PRK after the onset of presbyopia, usually around the age of 45, it’s crucial to understand that correcting distance vision will not alleviate the need for reading glasses for near tasks. At Skyline LASIK, we ensure our patients are fully informed about how their near vision will remain blurry after surgery. We offer alternative surgical solutions specifically designed to address presbyopia, such as refractive lens exchange and monovision LASIK and PRK. Our commitment is to provide clear and comprehensive vision solutions that cater to the unique needs of each patient at every stage of their visual journey.
Why Choose Skyline LASIK for Presbyopia Treatment
At Skyline LASIK, we’re located in Colorado Springs and proudly serve patients from Colorado Springs,Pueblo, and surrounding communities helping them reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses or contacts and improve their quality of life. Our practice is led by board-certified ophthalmologists with extensive training and experience in vision correction surgery. Personalized Treatment Planning
We understand that presbyopia treatment is a deeply personal decision. That’s why we take the time to listen to your vision goals, lifestyle needs, and concerns before recommending a treatment plan. Whether you’re seeking a surgical solution to eliminate reading glasses entirely or prefer a more conservative approach with corrective eyewear, we have options that work for you.
Advanced Surgical Technology
Our surgeons utilize the most advanced laser technology available, including WaveLight Plus Ray Tracing technology, which provides personalized vision correction tailored to each patient’s unique eye anatomy. This advanced technology allows us to deliver exceptional results with precision and accuracy, ensuring that your vision correction is customized to your specific needs.
Transparent Patient Communication
We’re committed to transparency throughout your treatment journey. During your complimentary consultation, we’ll explain exactly what each procedure involves, what results you can realistically expect, and what limitations or trade-offs may apply. We believe informed patients make the best decisions about their eye care.
Award-Winning Excellence
Dr. Matthew Chang, MD of Skyline LASIK has received the Colorado Springs Top Doctor Award for 10 consecutive years (since 2016), reflecting his commitment to excellence and patient satisfaction. Our practice maintains consistently high reviews, with patients consistently praising the professionalism of our surgical team, the quality of our results, and the compassionate care they receive from our entire staff.
Flexible Financing Options
We also understand that cost is an important consideration. That’s why we work with each patient to discuss their vision correction options and help them understand the investment required for each treatment. We’re here to help you find a solution that fits both your vision goals and your budget.
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Zoom in on Clearer Vision with Skyline LASIK
Are you looking for a solution for your nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism that also addresses age-related near vision loss? Let’s bring the world into sharper focus. Schedule your consultation in Colorado Springs today.
FAQs About Presbyopia
Can presbyopia be prevented?
Presbyopia is a natural part of aging and cannot be prevented. However, regular eye exams and proper eye care can help maintain overall eye health and allow for early detection of presbyopia and other age-related eye conditions.
Does everybody begin to notice presbyopia in their 40s?
Most people begin to encounter age-related farsightedness or near vision loss in their 40s, but there are certain medical conditions or other risk factors that can make a person more likely to notice changes to their near vision at an earlier age. Risk factors for premature presbyopia include hyperopia (farsightedness), diabetes, anemia, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and previous eye injury.
Is presbyopia the same as farsightedness?
No, presbyopia and farsightedness are different conditions. Like presbyopia, farsightedness (hyperopia) also makes it difficult to see things up close. However, farsightedness is present at birth and is caused by an eyeball that is shorter than it should be or a cornea that is not curved enough.
Presbyopia is age-related farsightedness that naturally occurs when the crystalline lens inside your eye becomes less flexible. Presbyopia happens to everyone, including people who already have refractive errors or who have never had vision problems in the past.
Can LASIK or PRK treat presbyopia?
LASIK and PRK both correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by reshaping the cornea, but they don’t correct the physical changes to the eye’s natural lens that cause presbyopia. In that sense, LASIK and PRK cannot “treat” presbyopia in the same way that they treat other refractive errors. However, our surgeons can perform LASIK and PRK with monovision to address changes in vision caused by presbyopia. Monovision involves correcting one eye for near vision and the other for distance. In most patients, the brain is able to combine both images to present a clear image at all distances, even for patients with presbyopia. Choosing monovision doesn’t eliminate your need for readers altogether, nor does it prevent the progression of presbyopia. Eventually, patients who elect monovision may need to use readers full time to see their sharpest at near.
Where can I find presbyopia treatment near me?
Skyline LASIK’s has one conveniently located office in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and we provide comprehensive presbyopia treatment to patients from Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and surrounding communities. Whether you’re considering advanced surgical options such as refractive lens exchange or monovision LASIK, our board-certified ophthalmologists will partner with you to create a personalized treatment plan. We offer complimentary consultations to discuss your vision goals and determine the best treatment option for your lifestyle and visual needs.
Take the Next Step Toward Clear Vision
Presbyopia doesn’t have to limit your quality of life or force you to depend on reading glasses. At Skyline LASIK in Colorado Springs, we offer advanced surgical solutions that can restore your near vision and give you the freedom to see clearly at all distances.
Schedule your complimentary consultation today to learn which presbyopia treatment option is right for you. Our experienced team will answer all your questions and help you make an informed decision about your vision correction.
1 American Academy of Ophthalmology. What is Presbyopia? Available: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-presbyopia. Accessed February 2, 2026.
2 National Eye Institute. Presbyopia. Available: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/presbyopia. Accessed February 2, 2026.
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