Presbyopia is the one of the most common age-related aliments. While traditional methods such as spectacle glasses or contact lenses are still the most widely used solutions for correcting the problem, PresbyLASIK offers some patients the opportunity to overcome the condition's limitations with surgery.

Because the procedure is relatively new and little established clinical data exists to support an accepted protocol for its application, the characteristics and baseline factors necessary to predict which procedure will yield the best results for any given individual are a subject of some debate.

It may be, for instance, that young, very active individuals in their early- to mid-40s are the ideal candidates for this procedure. Eventually the data may show it is better for a young person who is not so active. The indications for different surgical choices remain to be sorted out and opinions differ in the medical community as to the precise indications for a successful procedure.

For example, some surgeons believe creating a multi-focal cornea is the best option to correct presbyopia plus any refractive defect--for instance, to correct presbyopia and myopia at the same time. Patients who cannot see at near distances without their glasses when they are myopic can thus obtain the option to not wear glasses for near vision after surgery.

Surgeons with relatively extensive experience performing PresbyLASIK outside the US have found the procedure effective for treating patients with accommodative vision loss up to 2.00 diometers, though many stress that one of the most important characteristics of patients who have had successful surgeries is adequate pupil size. In patients with adequate pupils these surgeons have found PresbyLASIK provides good vision for both distance and near vision bilaterally: 20/20 or better for distance and J3 or better for near vision.

Ultimately, anyone suffering from difficulty with age-related vision loss should discuss with their surgeon the different options available through PresbyLASIK to determine whether the procedure might be an appropriate solution for them.