After 40 the eye's natural lens gradually loses its flexibility, making near reading harder; people find themselves holding the phone further away or needing brighter light. This is a normal condition called presbyopia that affects everyone and does not mean disease. Understanding its cause helps you choose the right solution for your age and lifestyle: from simple reading glasses to replacing the lens with a multifocal implant that gives distance and near vision together.
Signs & who it is for
- Difficulty reading small print and the phone up close
- Needing to hold things further away or increase the light
- Eye strain and headache after prolonged reading
- Switching between two pairs of glasses for distance and near
When is it recommended?
Between 40 and 50, reading glasses or laser correction in selected cases are reasonable options. After 50 — especially with early cataract — replacing the lens with a multifocal or extended-depth implant is usually the best choice, because it solves both problems at once and lasts a lifetime.
Options & techniques
- Reading glasses or multifocal lenses
- Laser correction with monovision in selected cases
- Refractive lens exchange with a multifocal or extended-depth implant
- Cataract surgery with a suitable lens if cataract has begun
Frequently asked questions
Can I have LASIK after 50?
Possible in selected cases, but after 50 lens implantation is usually the better option because it addresses presbyopia and early cataract together.
Book your appointment in Riyadh
Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Specialist Hospital – Riyadh · By appointment — call or WhatsApp for the next available slot