Presbyopia is the next hurdle to overcome for lasik surgeons

Middle aged people seeking relief from bifocals can only get partial relief from lasik surgery.  This is because as people reach middle age the inner, natural lens of the eye looses its ability to change shape due to increasing size and firmness.  This same lens can then become cloudy and it is then known as a cataract.  Some cataracts at the time of surgery have been found to be extremely hard.

Middle aged near sighted people who seek better uncorrected distance vision while maintaining their ability to see well up close without the help of reading glasses are often left with a choice, only partially correct or maybe only correct one eye or avoid this operation.  If the desire for unaided distance vision is great enough people sometimes consider just carrying a pair of readers with them when they are required.

Good news for these people is on the horizon with the advent of corneal inlays that are already being used in Europe.  These biocompatible inlays are placed in the corneal substance with the aid of a femptosecond laser.  These are the very same lasers used to make corneal flaps during lasik surgery.  The beauty of the inlays which are placed in the non-dominant eye is that they are reversible in that they can be removed at any time.