Reading

Reading Vision FAQ

What is Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is an optical condition caused by the loss of ability to focus on near objects. This happens as the eye’s natural lens loses its flexibility. Presbyopia is the reason that reading glasses become necessary, typically in the age range of 40s onwards and will continue to deteriorate until the age of 60, even for people who have excellent unaided distance vision. Those who suffer from presbyopia have difficulty reading menus, handphones, newspapers, magazines, labels, watches and other close up objects.

What is the KAMRA™ inlay?

The inlay is a mini-ring that’s gently implanted within the eye’s outer layer, the cornea. In addition to the opening in the center, the inlay features 8,400 high precision, laser etched micro-openings along the surface to maintain cornea health.

How does the inlay work?

The KAMRA™ inlay works to restore your eye’s ability to focus light from a nearby object. With an advanced design backed by a decade of research and development, the inlay expands your range of vision by focusing light that enters your eye through the center of the inlay.

What can I expect during the procedure?

The KAMRA™ inlay is gently implanted within the eye’s outerlayer, the cornea, during a procedure that takes less than 20 minutes. You won’t have any stitches or bandages, only eye drops and follow-up appointments to ensure proper healing. Your period of recovery and improvement will vary. You may see an improvement in your near vision in as little as a few days. Or, it may take longer.

When is the right time for the KAMRA™ inlay?

If you’ve already noticed a change in your near vision, ask us how the KAMRA™ inlay can impact your life today. A thorough eye exam will determine if the KAMRA™ inlay is right for you.

What benefits can I expect?

You can expect less dependency on reading glasses and improved clarity when performing everyday activities, such as reading a text message, laptop screen, food label, price tag, receipt or other items you encounter on a daily basis.

Will my eye look different?

The inlay is very discreet. It is significantly smaller than a contact lens and lighter than a grain of salt. Even in blue eyes, it is almost impossible for you or other people to detect.

How long until I notice an improvement?

Your recovery time will vary from a few days to a few weeks. The time it takes to restore everyday near vision depends on your individual healing time.

Will I still need my reading glasses?

The goal of the inlay is to reduce your dependency on reading glasses. You may still need readers if you are working in dim light, performing a near task for a prolonged period of time or reading tiny print.

How can I achieve the best results?

Avoid your reading glasses! The more you reach for glasses for up-close work, the longer it will take to retrain your brain to use the KAMRA™ inlay to see near objects.

Practise reading without glasses. In the beginning, you may want to practise your exercises by reading materials printed in a larger font size and progress to smaller font sizes.

Use artificial tears as prescribed. If you experience blurry or fluctuating vision, you may have an ocular surface (on the surface of the eye and the lids) condition. It is important to use your eye drops often to ensure your cornea remains healthy.

Are there any side effects?

Common temporary side effects are ocular surface (on the surface of the eye and the lids) condition, glare and halos during the first few weeks - most of which will subside over time. Over time, these conditions are expected to resolve or lessen.

Is it normal to experience blurry vision or fluctuations?

Yes, it is very common to experience these symptoms on and off during the first 9 to 12 months. This is often a sign of ocular surface (on the surface of the eye and the lids) condition, strain or the adaptation process. Use your eye drops and give your eyes frequent breaks.

Is it normal to notice dimness?

Yes, the inlay blocks a small amount of light from entering the eye, so an image in the KAMRA™ eye may appear duller or darker compared to the non-implant eye. Avoiding closing one eye at a time to “see” the difference will make the “dimness” less noticeable until it resolves.

Are there any options besides the KAMRA™ corneal inlay for reading vision problems?

Other solutions for reading vision problems include LASIK Monovision and Cataract Multifocal Lenses. Please contact us for more information.