As we get older, our eyes get a little cantankerous. Those who’ve never had a vision problem suddenly can’t see up close, and those who have had glasses for years to correct nearsightedness suddenly can’t see up close, either. These lucky folks get to experience the joy of bifocal or progressive lenses.
But new technology is on the market, and could provide an alternative for those who wear, or need to wear, glasses.
Self-adjusting lenses mimic the way an eye optimally shifts between up close and far away objects. These lenses, including the Superfocus and the Empower, give the wearer the ability to switch between vision prescriptions at their preference.
With the Empower lens, the wearer’s touch to the side of the frames switches the glasses’ prescription from a reading to distance prescription. This electronic format also offers an automatic mode that allows the wearer’s head tilt to automatically change the lens magnification.
Superfocus lenses achieve the switch between up close and far away vision by using two lenses. A traditional prescription lens corrects nearsightedness. The second lens, the dynamic lens, is made up of a flexible and rigid surface separated by clear fluid. The eyeglass wearer can correct up close vision by moving a slider on the nose bridge that adjusts the dynamic lens till nearsightedness is corrected.
These types of lenses may be ideal for glasses wearers who disdain having to change between various pairs of glasses, who haven’t adapted well to progressive or bifocal lenses, or for those people who love to try the most cutting edge technology.
And while these glasses may be a peak into where our glasses are headed in the future, for now they may be considered more of a novelty item. Costing anywhere from $500 to $1,200, these glasses are costly for lenses that aren’t necessarily as precise as traditional lenses.
If you’re considering self-adjusting lenses, you should talk to your board-certified ophthalmologist or optometrist for her opinion on these possibly easy but less precise lenses. And while these lenses can help ease the transition of dealing with multiple lens prescriptions, they still don’t rule out the need for you to see an eye doctor for a proper prescription.
As we age, eye appointments become about more than just about having our vision checked. They are also a pivotal part of maintaining optimal eye health. Your ophthalmologist helps in your overall health by catching problems such as:
- Stigmatism
- Cataracts
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Macular Degeneration
- Glaucoma
Learn more about eye conditions your ophthalmologist is trained to diagnose by visiting our blog on vision, the Knowledge Center.
Accent Physician Specialists recommends that all adults over the age of forty should see their ophthalmologist at least biannually. Adults over the age of 60 should schedule annual ophthalmology appointments. If you need to schedule an appointment for yourself or a loved one, contact your eye doctor today.