Picture this: You've just turned 40, still vibrant with youthful energy and thriving in your career. Then one day, you find yourself squinting at your phone screen, holding it at arm's length and struggling to read menus and fine print. Lao hua yan (presbyopia) has set in.
Inevitable with age, it’s a condition that occurs when the eye's natural crystalline lens loses its elasticity and ability to change shape, making it difficult to focus light accurately on nearby objects.
Unlike myopia or near-sightedness which affects distance vision and often begins earlier in life, presbyopia affects near vision as you age and usually starts in your early 40s, making it difficult to focus on close objects such as words on a phone screen.
Most will deal with this issue by getting reading glasses, which could get cumbersome if you already have a pair that deals with your near-sightedness. Or, some may be turned off at the idea of having to wear these glasses, leaving the problem untreated.
According to Mr Lee Kang Lian, an optometrist at OJO Optometrist and president of the Singapore Optometric Association, says: “A common misconception is that wearing reading glasses will worsen presbyopia, which is not true.
“Others may think losing their clear vision is part of growing older and those with myopia may not want the hassle of switching between two pairs of glasses or incur the cost of doing so.”
How to manage presbyopia
In such cases, Mr Lee often recommends multifocal contact lenses to his presbyopia clients, and warns that if the condition is left untreated, it can worsen your eyesight.
“Multifocal contact lenses allow wearers to maintain an active lifestyle with minimal disruption from presbyopic changes, enabling them to see clearly at various distances without needing to switch between different pairs of glasses,” he says.
Launched in July, Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day multifocal contact lenses achieve this by being intentionally designed with innovative technologies such as TearStable, OptiBlue light filter and Pupil Optimized Design to help improve clarity and reduce the strain on your eyes caused by presbyopia.
“The Acuvue Oasys Max-1-Day family, which includes normal and multifocal lenses, has been developed with key visual challenges in mind, including dry eyes and blue light exposure, which have been exacerbated by the use of digital devices,” says Ms Kanchan Bhakoo, business unit leader, Vision Care Singapore for Acuvue’s parent company, Johnson & Johnson.
Managing age-related changes in the eye
Acuvue’s unique Pupil Optimized Design means that age-related changes such as decreasing pupil size and refractive error, that makes vision blurry, are also taken into account. The technology uniquely optimises the optical design to the pupil size according to the wearer’s age and refractive power.1,2
Explains Ms Bhakoo: “This allows for clearer vision at various distances by enabling the pupil to focus through the appropriate zone depending on whether the wearer is looking at something up close or far away.”
As you age, your eyes may feel more dry due to a less stable tear film, says Mr Lee.
“The human tear film provides moisture that covers and lubricates the surface of your eyes. Think of it as a natural coating to keep your eyes healthy. An unstable tear film means you need to blink more frequently as the eyes feel dry faster,” he adds.
Ms Bhakoo explains that the Acuvue TearStable technology uses a tear-like wetting agent and hydrated silicone in each lens to reduce evaporation, helping to keep your eyes more stable and moisturised3. This leads to better comfort and clearer vision.
Protection from blue and ultraviolet light
Another feature is the OptiBlue light filter, which blocks 60 per cent of blue-violet light, reducing light scatter3,4,5 that can affect sharpness and clarity, especially at night.
“As we age, our natural eye lens becomes denser and less clear, often developing opacities that can cause light to scatter,” explains Ms Bhakoo.
For those who spend time outdoors, the lenses also protect against harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, blocking approximately 100 per cent of UVB rays and 99.9 per cent of UVA rays5, both of which affect eye health, notes Ms Bhakoo.
Another plus point: As daily disposable contact lenses do not require any storage, they are more convenient and healthier for your eyes as you won’t risk any product build-up, adds Mr Lee.
So far Ms Bhakoo says they have received positive feedback from wearers who have tried the new Acuvue Oasys Max 1-Day multifocal contact lenses.
“Many existing Acuvue wearers are upgrading from their existing contact lenses. We’ve also seen many wearers switch to Acuvue because they were unsatisfied with their current lenses, and are now benefiting from greater comfort and clarity,” says Ms Bhakoo.
For optometrist Mr Lee, he says he feels a sense of satisfaction whenever he sees the excitement on his patients’ faces – some in their 60s – as he is able to help bring back their near vision with multifocal contact lenses that have advanced technologies that fit modern lifestyles.
He adds: “They have regained the freedom to continue enjoying activities as they did before, as well as do away with the need to put on additional reading glasses.”
To get a trial pair, schedule an appointment with an eye care professional at a nearby store that sells Acuvue Oasys Max-1 Day. For more information visit www.acuvue.com.sg.
Footnotes
1 JJV Data on File 2022. Subjective Stand-Alone Claims for ACUVUE® OASYS MAX 1-Day MULTIFOCAL Contact Lenses - Exploratory Meta-analysis.
2 JJV Data on File 2022. ACUVUE PUPIL OPTIMIZED DESIGN Technology: JJVC Contact lenses, design features, and associated benefits
3 JJV Data on File 2022. TearStable Technology Definition.
4 JJV Data on File 2022. Blue-Violet Filter Utilized in ACUVUE® OASYS MAX 1-Day contact lenses.
5 JJV Data on File 2022. Material Properties: 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST, 1-DAY ACUVUE® TruEye®, ACUVUE® OASYS 1-Day with HydraLuxe® Technology and ACUVUE® OASYS MAX 1-Day with TearStable™ Technology Brand Contact Lenses and other daily disposable contact lens brands
Disclaimers
Filtering of HEV light by contact lenses has not been demonstrated to confer any systemic and/or ocular health benefit to the user. An Eye Care Professional should be consulted for more information. WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long-term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.
