How Modern Presbyopia Treatment Is Restoring Clear Vision at Every Distance

For many people, the first sign of ageing eyes is subtle. A restaurant menu becomes harder to read in low light. Text messages are held slightly further away. Eventually, reading glasses become part of everyday life. This common condition, known as presbyopia, affects virtually everyone from their mid-40s onwards and continues to progress over time.

While reading glasses and varifocal lenses offer temporary solutions, modern ophthalmology now provides long-term treatment options that address the underlying cause of presbyopia itself. Advances in trifocal lens implantation and laser eye surgery allow patients to restore clear vision across all distances; near, intermediate and far, without relying on glasses.

Dr. Jørn Jørgensen, medical founder of EuroEyes UK and one of the world’s most experienced implantable lens surgeons, has spent more than three decades treating presbyopia and cataracts. With over 150,000 lens procedures performed across the EuroEyes group, his experience reflects how modern intraocular lens technology is transforming visual outcomes for patients worldwide.

Below, Dr. Jørgensen answers the most common questions patients ask about presbyopia and the treatments now available.

Questions & Answers

At what age does presbyopia start, and how does it become noticeable?
Dr. J: From around the age of 45, virtually everyone is affected. Short-sighted people notice they need to remove their glasses to read, while long-sighted people find themselves holding texts further and further away – the well-known “long arms”.

Can presbyopia be prevented?
Dr. J: No. Neither eye exercises nor eye drops can prevent presbyopia. The only solutions are varifocal glasses or medical treatment.

Why does presbyopia occur?
Dr. J: To read clearly at a distance of around 30 centimetres, the eye needs approximately +3 dioptres of focusing power. In younger people, this is provided by the eye’s flexible natural lens. From around the age of 45–50, the lens becomes increasingly rigid and can no longer adapt – making reading glasses of approximately +1 to +3.0 dioptres necessary.

Is this a common issue among your patients?
Dr. J: Yes, very common – particularly due to smartphone use. The average 50-year-old looks at their phone around 100 times a day. Constantly putting glasses on and taking them off is something many people find very frustrating.

What happens to the lens as we age?
Dr. J: By around the age of 50, the lens can hardly adjust to near vision at all. From around 70–80 years of age, it often becomes cloudy as well – this is known as cataract, which requires surgery.

How does EuroEyes treat presbyopia?
Dr. J: Depending on individual suitability, either through implantation of trifocal lenses or with modern laser eye treatments. EuroEyes has more than 25 years of experience in presbyopia correction.

How does the treatment process work?
Dr. J: After a comprehensive eye examination, the most suitable treatment method is selected. The goal is long-term clear vision – without glasses, both near and far.

Is the procedure painful?
Dr. J: No. The procedure is pain-free, performed on an outpatient basis, and takes around ten minutes per eye. Both eyes are usually treated on the same day. Most patients are able to return to work within two to three days.

Is the treatment safe?
Dr. J: Yes. EuroEyes has treated more than 150,000 patients with trifocal lenses. All procedures are carried out by high-volume surgeons, performing between 1,000 and 2,000 procedures per year.

Can presbyopia be corrected at the same time as cataract surgery?
Dr. J: Yes. After removal of the cloudy lens, a customised artificial lens is implanted, allowing patients to see clearly both near and far without glasses.

What if I have already had cataract surgery?
Dr. J: Correction is still possible. Many patients previously received monofocal lenses and still require glasses. EuroEyes specialises in treating these patients so that they can achieve glasses-free vision.