Question

A person with presbyopia has lost some or all of the ability to accommodate the power of the eye. If such a person’s distant vision is corrected with LASIK, will she still need reading glasses? Explain.

a) Yes, reading glasses will still be needed.

b) No, reading glasses will not be needed.

c) The need for reading glasses depends on other factors.

d) LASIK corrects presbyopia completely.

Answer 1

LASIK surgery can correct distant vision by reshaping the cornea, but does not restore the lens's ability to accommodate for near vision. Therefore, even after LASIK, individuals with presbyopia will still require reading glasses or other forms of near vision correction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The condition known as presbyopia is characterized by the loss of the eye's ability to focus on close objects, which often occurs due to hardening of the lens with age. While LASIK surgery can correct distant vision by reshaping the cornea, it does not restore the lens's flexibility. Therefore, a person who has had LASIK to correct distance vision will still need reading glasses to see clearly up close. This is because the surgery does not address the issue of the lens's inability to change shape and accommodate near vision. To correct for presbyopia, reading glasses or other forms of near vision correction, such as specialized contact lenses or multifocal intraocular lenses, are typically required.