Presenting presbyopia surgery solutions

Understanding the different types of surgery and which should be used in each situation is vital when treating presbyopic patients, an ophthalmic surgeon has said.

Consultant ophthalmic surgeon, Allon Barsam, said that there is no one size fits all solution and that treatment should be tailored to the needs of each patient.

Speaking at a meeting of the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) in London (23 January), Mr Barsam said: “Due to our increased use of digital screens in everyday life, the ability to focus ‘at near’ is more important than ever before and will continue to be so.”

He shared with BCLA members that surgery is a real option for many presbyopic patients, particularly those that have struggled with contact lenses or spectacles, but added: “We need to understand more about the different types of surgery and what type should be used for any given situation.”

“It’s a complex area and we shouldn’t fall into the trap of favouring just one method. If you only use a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail,” he said.

At the meeting, which was held at the Royal College of Nursing, Mr Barsam gave a video-based presentation to demonstrate the most common surgical interventions for presbyopia as well as new innovations.

BCLA members also found out more about laser blended vision, implantable contact lenses, sulcus-based lenses and capsular bag fixated intraocular lenses, as well as patient selection theory.