Presbyopia | Ahrens Valley Eyewor

Presbyopia, Myopia & Hyperopia

What is PRESBYOPIA?

Symptoms of Presbyopia

Age-related changes to your eyes cause presbyopia. During the first few decades of life, your eye’s lens is soft and flexible. It easily changes its shape when you shift your vision from something far away to something close-up. This ability (accommodation) allows light to land on your retina so you can see objects clearly. As age increases the eye becomes less flexible and often times requires Bifocals to help offset these changes.

A tendency to hold reading material farther away to make the letters clearer
Blurred vision at normal reading distance
Eyestrain or headaches after reading or doing close-up work

Visit Us at Ahrens Valley Eyeworks for an Eye Exam

Your vision is so important, and all of us at Ahrens Valley Eyeworks understand how precious it is. We want to help you take steps to maintain and preserve your vision. We have a staff to provide you with the eye care that you need in order preserve and maintain your vision. Our eye doctor, Dr. Ariel Lenning, and our opticians, Richard Ahrens and Gina Mills, are here for the community in Monroe, WA, and can provide our patients with care and support. Your time is valuable, and we hope you choose us to care for your eyes. We are happy to provide you with eye care at a time that fits your schedule. Call us at (360) 794-5941 so we can schedule your next eye care appointment and help you improve your vision. Our eye doctor is here to help.

What is MYOPIA (Nearsightedness)?

Myopia is also known as nearsightedness, and it is a common refractive error. This condition makes it difficult to see objects in the distance. Fortunately, this condition can be treated, and our team here at Ahrens Valley Eyeworks can help using vision therapy.

What causes Myopia?

Myopia occurs due to an abnormal curvature bend. The eye is normally round and smooth, similar to a marble. If you have myopia, your cornea isn't even smooth. There are a couple of factors that can increase your risk of developing myopia.

Genetics: Myopia tends to run in families. If one of your parents is nearsighted, there is a chance that you will be as well. If both of your parents are nearsighted, your risk increases significantly.

Spending too much time indoors: Studies have shown that people who spend little time outdoors have a higher risk of having myopia than those who go outdoors often.

What Are the Symptoms Of Myopia?

The most common symptom of myopia is seeing objects in the distance as blurry. The other symptoms include:

Needing to squint to see objects in the distance
Needing to sit closer to the TV or in the classroom
Being unaware of objects in the distance
Excessive blinking
Needing to rub your eyes frequently to see objects in the distance more clearly

How Can Vision Therapy Help?

Vision therapy is also known as vision training. It is a non-surgical treatment program where Dr. Lenning will work with you using eye exercises. Dr. Lenning may also use prisms, visual aids, and computer-assisted activities to improve the muscle strength in your eyes. The goal of vision therapy is to help develop your ocular strength and function to help treat your nearsightedness and the symptoms associated with it.

How Does Vision Training Work To Treat Myopia?

At Ahrens Valley Eyeworks our goal is to help enhance your neurological system and visual systems. If they work together well, it can help improve your vision. The goal of vision therapy is to train your eyes and your brain to start working together. Dr. Lenning will work with you to strengthen your eye muscles and improve your vision. Our team's goal is also to prevent your myopia from getting worse.

What Other Conditions Can Vision Therapy Treat?

Vision therapy is great for treating myopia as well as other conditions of the eye. These include:

Strabismus (eye misalignment)
Amblyopia (binocular eyesight issues)
Nystagmus (a disorder of ocular movement)
Rehabilitation for patients with brain injuries
Rehabilitation for patients with developmental delays

What is HYPEROPIA (Farsightedness)?

A vision condition in which nearby objects are blurry.
Hyperopia is a common vision condition in adults.
People with hyperopia must squint to see nearby objects. Reading, writing, computer work, or drawing for long periods of time may cause eye strain and headache.
Treatment options include eyeglasses, contact lenses, and surgery such as LASIK.

Find Help to See Clearly Today at Ahren's Valley Eyeworks

Start seeing clearly and improve your eye health by schedule a vision exam today at Ahren's Valley Eyeworks! Call us today and stop by our clinic in the city of Monroe, WA, for help!