Counter the Effects of Aging with PreLex Surgery
Presbyopia Houston
Presbyopia, like cataracts, is a condition that occurs naturally as part of the aging process. If you suffer from presbyopia - nearly everyone over the age of 40 does - our Houston eye care center has been built with your needs in mind. We offer a wide range of eye care treatments at the Watkins Eye Center, and our team is committed to working closely with individuals to meet their vision goals. If you are seeking a solution to impaired vision that doesn't involve corrective lenses, we can help. To learn more about presbyopia or your treatment options, contact our Houston, Texas eye care practice today.
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Presbyopia - Details and Treatment Options
As we age, the proteins in the natural ocular lens tend to thicken and become less elastic. If the proteins form natural clumps, they can cloud vision and develop into a cataract. In severe cases, a cataract can greatly inhibit vision, and in such cases, must be removed. With presbyopia however, the change in protein structure makes the lens unable to focus on near objects, making tasks such as reading a book, menu, or computer screen increasingly difficult without the aid of reading glasses. With presbyopic lens exchange (PreLex), this condition can be corrected permanently.
The PreLex treatment and cataract surgery are the same, though they are performed for different reasons as illustrated above. During PreLex surgery, an incision will be made along the side of the cornea. This allows the natural ocular lens to be removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens implant (IOL). For the purposes of presbyopia treatment, multifocal lenses will be utilized so that individuals have the ability to focus on objects both far and near (since, after all, the intention of presbyopia treatment is to improve near vision). Though PreLex treatment can permanently correct presbyopia, it should be noted that it is a surgical procedure and as such, is not without risk. Candidates for PreLex surgery include:
- Patients with severe nearsightedness or farsightedness
- Patients with corneal tissue deemed too thin for effective LASIK treatment
- Patients who would like to become less dependent on reading glasses
- Patients who are unable to focus on near objects as a result of the aging process
We can discuss your needs and goals with you in person and determine whether PreLex treatment is right for you. Though some individuals are content with using corrective lenses to counter the effects of aging, many others are not and are seeking an alternative treatment; for those individuals, PreLex may provide the solution they are after.
Risks and Benefits
All surgical procedures are inherently risky to varying degrees. If you are considering PreLex surgery for presbyopia, our Houston team will help you first weigh the risks and benefits of treatment so that you can make an informed decision about whether to proceed. Risks associated with PreLex surgery include infection, bleeding, scarring, and adverse reaction to anesthesia. These risks are rare, however, and when the procedure is performed by an experienced surgeon, the risk of complication can be further reduced.
"Everyone on staff was very patient and caring.Thank you for making the procedure as easy as possible!" - Sandy A. read more
The benefits of PreLex surgery are numerous; most notably, it improves a patient's unaided vision, both near and far. Studies conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration indicate that approximately 80 percent of patients who undergo PreLex surgery no longer require eye glasses, including reading glasses. Of that study group, only 17 percent required glasses occasionally. Additionally, PreLex surgery at an early age eliminates the risk of cataracts, as the natural ocular lenses are removed and replaced with artificial lenses that are immune to protein breakdown. As half of Americans aged 80 have undergone cataract surgery, this is no small benefit.
Learn More about Presbyopia Treatment - Contact Us
We can help if you suffer from presbyopia and are seeking treatment. At the Watkins Eye Center in Houston, Texas, our team specializes in surgical treatment of a range of eye conditions. To reduce your dependency on glasses and improve your quality of life, schedule a consultation with Dr. Andrew Watkins today.
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What We Can Do For You
The Watkins Eye Center proudly offers comprehensive eye care and vision correction services, in addition to the most advanced refractive surgery options, such as PRELEX (presbyopic lens exchange) and iLasik with the IntraLase™. Houston patients may turn to us for:
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