Presbyopia can affect everyone at some point in their lives. Get to know one of the treatment options that may be available to you when it does.
Presbyopia is a change to your vision that happens as you get older, usually starting in your 40s. Over time, you might notice you need to hold books, menus, or your phone farther away to see clearly. This is because the lens inside your eye gradually becomes less flexible, making it harder to focus on things close to you. Traditionally, this is when people would start to use reading glasses, but nowadays, you have more options, like glasses, eye drops, contact lenses, or even eye surgery.
Pilocarpine is a medication that has been used for many years for other eye problems, like glaucoma. In recent years, doctors found that small doses of pilocarpine can also help with presbyopia. How does it work? When you put pilocarpine eye drops in your eyes, they cause the tiny muscles that control your pupils to contract. This creates a smaller opening for light to come through, making it easier to focus on things up close. If you’ve ever done photography, it’s similar to how a camera aperture can be narrowed to get an overall clearer picture. The effect is called “extended depth of focus.”
Not everyone with presbyopia can use pilocarpine eye drops. That’s why it’s very important to have a full eye exam before considering pilocarpine—your eye doctor will check your eye health and see if this treatment is right for you. For example, if you are at risk for retinal detachment, your doctor may be less likely to prescribe pilocarpine.
Like any medicine, pilocarpine eye drops can cause side effects. Some common ones to look out for include:
Side effects are typically mild, but it’s important to see your doctor regularly while using pilocarpine. If your side effects don’t get better or if they get worse, contact your doctor right away.
Pilocarpine drops are just one way to treat presbyopia. Other options include:
These are eyeglasses designed to help people see things up close more clearly. They are easy to use and typically inexpensive. You wear them only when you need to read or do close work.
These glasses are designed to provide clear vision at more than one distance. Progressive lenses provide a gradual change in power to allow a continuous range of vision, while bifocal lenses have two distinct powers for near and distance vision.
Some contacts can correct presbyopia. With monovision contacts, you wear a different lens prescription in each eye—one lens in one eye for distance vision and another in the other eye for close-up vision. Multifocal lenses are designed to correct vision in each eye at multiple distances, allowing near, intermediate and distance vision.
There are surgeries that can change the shape of your cornea or replace your eye’s natural lens. These can help you depend less on glasses or contacts. Examples include LASIK, corneal inlays, or lens implants.
The information provided on this page and across the entire Acuvue.com experience is designed to offer educational insights into eye health, referencing expert advice from reputable medical and government organizations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Optometric Association and the National Eye Institute. While we research, report, and review the content on Acuvue.com and its extended social media to deliver accurate and up-to-date vision, vision care, and vision correction information, we do not make any assurances, and content accessed on or through Acuvue.com and its extended social media is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any eye conditions or health issues. This brings us to our #1 eye health tip: Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized medical guidance and care.
