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Cover Story

T HE P R E SB Y OP I A OP P OR T UNI T Y

PRESBYOPIA

Among the more than two billion people with lens options (distance-centred, near-centred, toric,

presbyopia worldwide , it’s estimated that the global scleral, aspheric, hybrid, extended depth of focus
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unmet need for presbyopia correction is 45 per (EDOF), and nasally decentered optics). As well,
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cent . This represents an enormous market for the practitioners are more confident in prescribing and
eyecare community and reflects the paradigm shift fitting them.
that is happening in the world of presbyopia. Is it any
wonder industry partners are pouring money into ELECTIVE SURGICAL PROCEDURES
R&D to create products for this category of patients? 1. Presbyopic laser refractive surgery: While there is
Methods of correcting presbyopia are progressing a gain in the presbyope’s near vision, monovision
with greater opportunities for eyecare practitioners excimer laser ablation (laser in situ keratomileusis
(ECPs) and more choices for patients than ever or LASIK, photorefractive keratectomy or PRK,
before. But to date, none of them is perfect. femtosecond lenticule extraction or FLEx, small
incision lenticule extraction or SMILE, Intralase
SPECTACLES AND CONTACT LENSES Sub-Bowman’s Keratomileusis or SBK) typically
By far the most frequently offered option remains compromises binocular vision and sometimes
reading glasses or spectacles with lined bifocals even distance vision.
or trifocals and progressive addition lenses. More
recently, however, the multifocal contact lens market 2. The presbyopic-correcting (PC) intraocular lens
share has grown; ECPs are prescribing them more (IOL): This is geared more to presbyopes who
frequently, due to technological advances in lens want to lessen or eliminate their dependency on
design, materials and manufacturing methods, as glasses. The advancement of this technology over
well as the availability of various multifocal contact the past 10-15 years has been revolutionary with

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