Eye Health Resources

Get to know treatment options for presbyopia

It happens to almost everyone—the lens inside your eye loses flexibility as you age, and seeing clearly up close becomes more difficult. So what can you do about it?^{^}

Contact Lenses

What are your contact lens options?

Three common approaches

Contact lenses can be a great treatment for presbyopia, especially if you needed glasses or contacts before presbyopia started. That’s because certain contact lens options can correct both near vision and distance vision at the same time—so there can be less of a need to reach for readers. Here are the most common options your doctor may prescribe.

Single vision contact lenses combined with glasses
Monovision contact lenses
Multifocal contact lenses

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Eyeglasses

A variety of glasses to meet a variety of needs

Over-the-counter readers: Are they right for you?

You may have noticed reading glasses, or readers, at your local drugstore or grocery store. They’re usually in a rack, labeled with different numbers from +1.00 diopter (D) to +3.00 D. If you had good vision before you noticed presbyopia setting in, these glasses may work for you and do not require a prescription like other glasses. Still, the specific power of reading glasses should be determined by an eye doctor, and they should only be used while you’re focusing up close.

Prescription eyeglasses for presbyopia

If you already wore glasses before you started noticing the effects of presbyopia and you want to keep wearing glasses, prescription glasses for presbyopia could be a good fit for you. They might also be prescribed to you if over over-the-counter glasses aren’t correcting your close-up vision well enough. Here are a few of the most common prescription eyeglass options.

Prescription reading glasses

These are exactly as they sound—reading glasses that your eye doctor must prescribe to you. You may need these if, for example, both your eyes are not the same prescription or if you have uncorrected astigmatism. Prescription reading glasses should only be used when you’re reading, as they only correct near vision and will not correct your other vision issues.

Bifocals

An invention widely credited to Benjamin Franklin, bifocals correct close-up and far vision by using two different lens powers in the same pair of glasses. The bottom of the lens corrects presbyopia, while the top can incorporate your current prescription for distance vision. The two powers are divided by a line (which may or may not be visible).

Trifocals

These use the same idea as bifocals, but add an extra area to correct for mid-range vision, so you have three areas of vision correction with three different lens prescriptions. Trifocals work best for people who need their vision corrected whether they’re looking at something close up, far away, or in between. But note, since they have different powers depending on where you look, they do take some getting used to.

Progressive lenses

These eyeglasses work similarly to bifocals and trifocals, but instead of having a distinct division between the two powers of the lenses, the vision correction gradually changes in the lens from top to bottom.

Surgery

An ever-evolving option

Surgery is the most permanent of presbyopia correction options. It’s not often recommended for people who have no vision problems other than presbyopia because it can come with some risks. That said, an increase in demand for presbyopia surgery is helping drive advancements in surgery technique and technology.

Laser eye surgery to correct the effects of aging

The treatment usually involves improving close-up vision in the non-dominant eye, similar to the idea behind monovision contact lenses. Some people still need eyeglasses even after surgery.

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Implants and inlays

Another surgical presbyopia treatment option is for an ophthalmologist to remove the lenses in your eyes and replace them with an artificial lens. These are called intraocular lenses, or IOLs. Another option is a corneal inlay, which is a small ring that is put into your cornea that helps with near vision. Both come with pros and cons, so it’s best to discuss these and all options with your eye doctor.

Eye Drops

A few drops a day could help keep the presbyopia at bay

A prescription eye drop is now available in some countries for use to help correct presbyopia. They work by reducing the size of your pupils, which can help you see nearby objects better. The effect of the drops lasts for about six hours, which means you’d need to apply them often. 

Is Presbyopia Reversible?

Presbyopia isn’t reversible, but you have options for correcting it

As of right now, there’s no way to reverse or cure presbyopia, but as you’ve now read, you have plenty of treatment option to discuss with your eye doctor.

Why choose ACUVUE for presbyopia?

Clear vision near and far

Seamlessly go from reading close up to seeing far away, even on the move.

Optimized for your pupils

Pupil size changes with age. We account for that to provide clear, crisp vision.

Designed for all-day comfort

ACUVUE contact lenses are moisture-infused to help prevent dry, itchy eyes.

UV protection^#

UV blocking^# is standard across our entire line of contact lenses.

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Provide some basic information and get a certificate for a free^* trial pair

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Find an eye doctor

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions

If I've had LASIK or another refractive surgery, can I still wear contact lenses?

It's not uncommon to ask a doctor if you can wear contacts after LASIK. LASIK surgery permanently alters the shape of your eye, but doesn't always provide completely clear vision. For instance, it doesn't prevent presbyopia (the normal aging of your eye that makes it hard to see up close) so you may still need vision correction at some point. If your doctor feels you need vision correction after LASIK surgery and that contact lenses are appropriate, ask them if ACUVUE contact lenses could be a good choice.

How long do contacts last?

Contact lenses will always have an approved wear and replacement schedule. Folllowing the recommended schedule can help keep your eyes healthy and avoid complications of overwear. The most common lengths of time you'll see will be daily disposables, two-week, and monthly. Daily disposable contact lenses cannot be re-used and need to be replaced daily and thrown away after each use. Two-week and monthly lenses need to be disinfected after each use and then thrown away after their approved length of wear.

Can I use eye drops with contact lenses?

You can use eye drops with contact lenses, but you need to ensure they're formulated specifically for use with contacts, which should be clear on the packaging. Eye drops not meant for use with contacts may cause irritation or redness if they're used while wearing contacts. Always check the packaging and, if in doubt, get in touch with your eye doctor.

Can I continue using my glasses if I start wearing contact lenses?

Yes, you should still have a pair of glasses even if you choose to get contact lenses so that you have the opportunity to switch between one or the other depending on your needs. For example, some people prefer using glasses in their day-to-day and switch to contacts when they are more active, like in sports. Others prefer wearing contacts full-time, but should always have a pair of glasses they can use as a backup in case of problems.

Is it difficult to care for contact lenses?

Caring for reusable contact lenses is simple, especially when you get the hang of it. With multipurpose lens solutions and a clean contact lens case, cleaning, disinfecting and storing your contacts is easy and convenient.

For the most convenient way to wear contacts, consider daily disposable contact lenses. You wear them for one day, then throw them away to help avoid complications like infections.

How do I get contact lenses?

To get contact lenses, you'll need to make an appointment with an eye doctor for a contact lens fitting. Contact lens fittings may take longer than a regular eye exam since your eye doctor needs to determine what shape and size lens you need, as well as your prescription.
If you're looking to try ACUVUE, you'll find plenty of optometrists near you who carry
ACUVUE lenses and can explain why they might be right for you.

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Footnotes

^Consult your eye care professional for more information. J&J does not provide medical advice; this information is for educational purposes only.

#Helps protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye.

WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long-term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.

*Free trial contact lenses available only from participating eye care professionals. Exam and fitting fees not included.

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Important Information For Contact Lens Wearers: ACUVUE Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional and ask for a Patient Instruction Guide, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guides.

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Get to know treatment options for presbyopia