VISION OF YOUTH
As we get older, the lens begins to lose flexibility and it becomes more difficult to read close- up, fine print such as a newspaper, book or restaurant menu. This is called presbyopia and studies suggest it affects as many as four out of five people over the age of 45.
For years the only option was varifocal glasses but these can cause images to jump as the line of sight moves from one part of the lens to another. Optometrist Francesca Marchetti says: “Distortion of peripheral vision can make it difficult for wearers to judge the environment around them, particularly descending stairs.”
Now Bausch + Lomb has developed a unique disposable contact lens which blends different prescriptive powers across the lens to deliver perfect near and distant vision, plus all the points in between.
The BioTrue lens for presbyopia is made of a new material called HyperGel which mimics the surface of the eye, making it more comfortable for wearers. Francesca explains: “Dry eye becomes more common as we get older and it can make wearing contact lenses impossibly uncomfortable.”
In clinical trials eight out of 10 users with sensitive eyes said the BioTrue lenses ( which cost between £ 40 and £ 60 a month depending on individual prescription) delivered “superior comfort”. Improvements in laser surgery mean that in some cases it can now be used to correct presbyopia.
In one procedure, known as Intracor, the laser is used to cut a series of concentric rings in the cornea which makes it bulge slightly. This creates a bifocal effect at the centre which improves close- up vision, while leaving the outer part for distance vision.
However the procedure which costs about £ 2,500 is only effective in people with mild presbyopia – + 1.5 or less – and is not suitable if you are shortsighted. A second technique, Supracor, involves reshaping the cornea. This costs around £ 2,500 and is suitable for people with more severe presbyopia. It sounds like the stuff of science fiction but the bionic eye is already a reality. In fact there are two of them – the Argus II which was developed by scientists at Duke University in America and the Alpha IMS system devised by researchers at the University of Tubingen in Germany.
The American device relies on glasses fitted with a tiny camera to send electrodes, via a pocket- sized converter, to an implant in the eye. This stimulates optic nerves which send a picture to the brain. The German bionic eye consists of an implant beside the retina and sends signals to the brain via a microchip inserted behind the ear. Air- conditioning, staring at screens and wearing contact lenses can cause discomfort from dry eyes. Studies suggest as many as 30 per cent of us will suffer “dry eye” syndrome at some time and it is more common over the age of 45.
Francesca says: “It may seem a relatively trivial problem to those who have not experienced it but the combination of discomfort, visual disturbance and increased saltiness of the tear film can have a significant impact on quality of life.”
If left untreated, it can create a vicious cycle of ever- worsening symptoms and may even lead to permanent damage to the cornea.
Artificial tear solutions provide temporary relief but research has shown a far more effective remedy is hyaluronic acid, or hyaluronan, a substance which is found in the jelly in the middle of the eyeball.
A trial involving 86 people with medium to severe dry eye found hyaluronic acid also helped repair damage to the surface of the eye.
Francesca advises using Artelac Rebalance which doesn’t cause blurring of vision, during the day and applying Artelac Nighttime before going to bed. Both are available from pharmacies and larger supermarkets. Cholesterol- lowering statins which are widely prescribed for the over- 50s increase the risk of cataracts, Canadian researchers who studied the health records of more than 1.3million adults have warned. Taking statins for at least a year increased the risk of developing cataracts severe enough to warrant surgery by 27 per cent.
Lead researcher Professor John Mancini from the University of British Columbia says: “The benefits of statins are outweighed by any small risk for cataract surgery.” However the findings underline the importance of regular eye checks, particularly if you are taking statins.