By Park Joo-ho, Kukmin Ilbo Kuki News
Published: June 16, 2009, at 9:51 a.m.

As society continues to age, demand for medical care related to age-associated conditions is rising rapidly. In particular, increasingly advanced surgical techniques for eye conditions such as presbyopia and cataracts are being introduced. As a result, presbyopia is becoming viewed as a condition that can be treated rather than simply accepted as an inevitable part of aging.

Presbyopia and Cataracts: Common Age-Related Eye Conditions in an Aging Society

According to the annual disease statistics published by the National Health Insurance Corporation, cataracts ranked among the three leading causes of hospitalization in Korea for several years and were considered one of the most common conditions affecting older adults.

A cataract is a condition in which the eye’s normally transparent natural lens becomes cloudy due to congenital or acquired causes, resulting in visual impairment. Its prevalence increases with age, and the article states that it affects approximately 60 percent of people in their 50s and most adults aged 65 or older.

The incidence of cataracts has also been increasing among younger adults in their 30s and 40s. In addition to aging, cataracts may be associated with the long-term use of certain medications such as steroids, ocular trauma, intraocular surgery or chronic inflammation inside the eye.

Presbyopia is another common age-related eye condition. It is an age-related decline in near-focusing ability that commonly begins in a person’s 40s or 50s. It occurs as the natural lens and the structures involved in focusing gradually lose their function with age.

A More Advanced Surgical Option for Treating Presbyopia and Cataracts Together

A surgical technique designed to address cataracts and presbyopia in a single procedure had recently been introduced in Korea. This involved implanting a multifocal intraocular lens, such as ReSTOR, TECNIS or ReZoom, during cataract surgery.

Conventional cataract surgery removes the cloudy natural lens and replaces it with a monofocal intraocular lens that provides one primary focal point. As a result, patients commonly required separate reading glasses for near vision after surgery.

By contrast, surgery using a multifocal intraocular lens is designed to provide vision at far, intermediate and near distances, potentially reducing the need for reading glasses after surgery.

It also attracted attention because it could address both cataracts and presbyopia during the same operation, eliminating the inconvenience of undergoing separate procedures.

The article states that the ReSTOR, TECNIS and ReZoom lenses had received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and were designed for long-term use.

It also explains that topical anesthetic eye drops are used instead of anesthetic injections, helping reduce anesthesia-related complications, discomfort and bleeding. Another stated advantage is that patients may return to their normal activities relatively soon after surgery.

Who May Be a Candidate for Presbyopia-Correcting Cataract Surgery with a Multifocal Intraocular Lens?

Potential candidates described in the article include people in their 40s through 80s who have both cataracts and presbyopia.

They may include people who frequently read books or the Bible, perform extensive document or computer work, need clear vision at both far and near distances, participate in outdoor sports or leisure activities such as golf and table tennis, or find glasses and contact lenses inconvenient.

The article states that, following surgery with a multifocal intraocular lens, more than 95 percent of these patients may be able to perform activities such as reading, outdoor exercise, driving and computer work without relying on glasses.

Dr. Gyung Bai Choi, Chief Director of JC Bitsomang Eye Clinic, said, “Unlike reading glasses, a multifocal intraocular lens is implanted inside the eye, so patients do not have to repeatedly put on and remove glasses. This can provide greater convenience without the fatigue or dizziness sometimes associated with reading glasses.”

He emphasized, “Presbyopia-correcting surgery with a multifocal intraocular lens requires advanced surgical expertise and must take each patient’s eye condition and lifestyle into account. A detailed consultation with the attending ophthalmologist and a comprehensive examination using advanced diagnostic equipment are essential before surgery in order to achieve a high level of patient satisfaction.”