Yes, you can get LASIK if you wear progressive lenses. However, whether or not you’re a suitable candidate depends on your overall eye health and vision needs.
Here’s everything you need to know before making the leap.
Progressive lenses are often prescribed to people over 40 who experience presbyopia, a natural part of ageing where the eyes struggle to focus on nearby objects. LASIK is a popular solution for vision correction, but if you wear progressive lenses, you might wonder how it works for your unique condition. This guide will explore in depth whether LASIK is right for you and what to expect.
Understanding Progressive Lenses and Presbyopia
To assess if LASIK is an option for you, it’s essential to understand what progressive lenses are and why they’re prescribed.
What Are Progressive Lenses?
Progressive lenses are a type of multifocal lens that allows for seamless vision correction across various distances. Unlike bifocals or trifocals, which have visible lines separating distance and near corrections, progressive lenses smoothly transition between prescriptions.
If you’re wearing progressive lenses, your eyes likely require help seeing clearly:
- At a distance (e.g., road signs while driving).
- Intermediate distances (e.g., looking at a computer screen).
- Up close (e.g., reading a book or looking at your smartphone).
This vision condition, called presbyopia, naturally occurs from the loss of elasticity in the eye’s natural lens as you age. Progressive lenses provide a non-surgical solution, but as LASIK becomes more advanced, you might ask whether it can offer the same benefits without the daily hassle of glasses.
Can LASIK Treat Presbyopia?
Presbyopia presents unique challenges because it results from the ageing lens rather than general refractive errors like myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness). Traditional LASIK reshapes the cornea to correct refractive errors but does not directly address the inability to focus on nearby objects caused by presbyopia.
However, modern LASIK techniques and alternatives, such as monovision LASIK or blended vision correction, offer viable solutions for individuals with presbyopia.
- Monovision LASIK corrects one eye for distance vision and the other for near vision, allowing the brain to naturally adjust to the difference.
- Blended vision LASIK involves a finer-tuned adjustment to create overlap between the corrected visions in both eyes.
These methods give individuals wearing progressive lenses the potential freedom to live without the need for glasses or contacts.
LASIK Eligibility for Progressive Lens Wearers
To determine if LASIK is right for you, a thorough evaluation by an ophthalmologist or optometrist is necessary. Here are the primary factors they’ll assess:
General Candidacy for LASIK
To be considered suitable for LASIK, you’ll need to meet the general eligibility criteria:
- Stable vision prescription for at least a year.
- Healthy corneas, with enough thickness to undergo reshaping.
- No significant eye conditions, such as cataracts, severe dry eye, or glaucoma.
- Overall health, as conditions like autoimmune diseases or uncontrolled diabetes can impact healing.
If you meet these basic requirements, your doctor will explore personalised options to address presbyopia.
Age and Presbyopia Considerations
Since presbyopia typically develops after the age of 40, age plays an important role in LASIK considerations. Although LASIK candidates are often under 45, some presbyopic patients older than this may still be candidates for monovision or blended vision LASIK, depending on eye health.
Individuals with advanced presbyopia may also be advised to consider alternatives like refractive lens exchange (RLE), where the eye’s natural lens is replaced with an artificial multifocal or accommodative intraocular lens (IOL).
Current Use of Progressive Lenses
Your dependence on progressive lenses offers valuable insight into how LASIK can be tailored. For example:
- If you primarily use progressive lenses for reading and computer tasks, monovision LASIK can help by focusing one eye for near vision while leaving the other tuned for distance.
- If you rely equally on all focal distances, blended vision or alternative surgical techniques such as refractive lens exchange may provide better results.
What to Expect During a LASIK Evaluation?
To ensure LASIK is suitable for progressive lens wearers like yourself, the process involves several key steps:
- Comprehensive Eye Exam
Your eye doctor will check your prescription, eye health, and corneal thickness using advanced diagnostic tools.
- Discussing Vision Goals
It’s essential to clearly communicate your lifestyle needs. For example, if you want better distance vision for driving but don’t mind wearing reading glasses occasionally, this can influence the treatment plan.
- Trial Monovision With Contact Lenses
Before committing to monovision LASIK, many doctors suggest testing the experience with monovision contact lenses. This lets you gauge comfort and adaptability to having different vision settings in each eye.
Alternatives to LASIK for Progressive Lens Wearers
While LASIK is a popular choice, it isn’t the only option for people with presbyopia and progressive lenses. If you’re not an ideal candidate for LASIK, your doctor may recommend one of these alternatives:
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
RLE involves replacing the eye’s natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL), similar to the surgery performed for cataracts. Multifocal or accommodative lenses can mimic the function of progressive glasses.
- Best For: Individuals with more advanced presbyopia or those over 50.
- Benefits: Offers permanent correction for presbyopia and prevents cataracts in the future.
Corneal Inlays
This innovative technique places a small device in the cornea of one eye to improve near vision without affecting distance vision.
- Best For: Individuals committed to monovision solutions.
- Benefits: Minimally invasive and reversible.
Custom Contact Lenses
Custom-designed multifocal contact lenses offer a non-permanent solution, ideal for those who want flexible vision correction without surgery.
- Best For: Those exploring presbyopia solutions but not yet ready for surgical options.
Benefits and Considerations of LASIK for Progressive Lens Wearers
If you’re considering LASIK, here’s a breakdown of its potential advantages and drawbacks specific to progressive lens wearers:
Benefits
- Reduced dependence on glasses for certain activities, such as driving or sports.
- Precision and customisation with modern LASIK technology.
- Quick recovery time, with most individuals returning to regular activities within 24 to 48 hours.
Considerations
- May still require reading glasses for close-up tasks, especially with advanced presbyopia.
- Not suitable for everyone, particularly individuals with thin corneas or unstable vision prescriptions.
- Long-term results may vary, as presbyopia naturally progresses over time.
Making the Decision
The choice to get LASIK while wearing progressive lenses depends on your unique needs, lifestyle, and goals. Consulting a trusted eye care professional is the first step to determine whether LASIK or an alternative will offer the best outcome.
If independence from progressive lenses is your ultimate goal, modern LASIK solutions and alternatives provide multiple paths toward achieving greater visual freedom. With advancements in technology, you have more options than ever to tailor a solution to your needs.
Exploring Your Next Steps
Are you curious to learn if LASIK is right for you? Schedule a consultation with an eye care professional to unlock the benefits of customised vision correction. From monovision LASIK to refractive lens exchange, there’s likely a solution that can suit your lifestyle and reduce your reliance on progressive lenses.
