Presbyopia Correction: Why Korea is the Best

Presbyopia Correction: Why Korea is the Best

As individuals reach their mid-40s, many may experience a rapid decline in vision, leading to concerns about whether they are experiencing presbyopia. Often, they find it challenging to distinguish between presbyopia and cataracts. Many patients visit Bright Eye Clinic with these concerns. Today, we will broadly discuss presbyopia correction, cataracts, and various correction methods.

1. The Introduction of the World’s First Presbyopia Lens Implant Surgery, ArtiPlus

Presbyopia is a natural aging phenomenon that occurs after the mid-40s, leading to a gradual decline in the ability to see nearby objects, causing significant discomfort in daily life. To correct this presbyopia, presbyopia correction surgery has steadily evolved over generations.

Starting with the first generation of excimer laser correction, which involved corneal cutting, the second generation involved the removal of the lens and insertion of multifocal intraocular lenses. Currently, the ArtiPlus lens from Ophtec has emerged as the third generation of presbyopia correction surgery.

ArtiPlus was developed by the Dutch company Ophtec, which has specialized in ophthalmic lens development for 40 years since 1983. It is regarded as a lens with proven safety and performance, utilizing the iris fixation method from the previously implemented ArtiFlex and the CTF optics, which have been used in tens of thousands of surgeries.

We recommend ArtiPlus for presbyopia correction because it evenly disperses all incoming light from close, intermediate, and distant distances. After implantation, it can correct from +2D to -15D severe myopia and presbyopia all at once, providing quality vision without the need for reading glasses or regular glasses.

2. A Surgical Process Similar to Cataract Intraocular Lens Insertion

Cataract surgery involves removing the lens and inserting an artificial lens, requiring a high level of precision; thus, the skills of an experienced surgeon are crucial.

The ArtiPlus procedure is conducted based on this experience and expertise, applying the know-how accumulated from traditional cataract surgeries. In simple terms, cataract surgery is a similar surgical method to lens implantation.

It involves inserting an artificial lens, either multifocal or monofocal, and removing the cloudy natural lens. However, previous presbyopia correction surgeries had to be performed in conjunction with cataract surgery.

Choosing a multifocal intraocular lens during cataract surgery offers the advantage of achieving clear vision without glasses at close, intermediate, and distant ranges, but it required waiting until the cataract surgery was necessary.

However, with the introduction of the ArtiPlus lens, a technological innovation in presbyopia correction has been achieved. The procedure involves a partial incision of the cornea to insert the lens, similar to standard lens insertion surgery, which protects both the cornea and the lens. Moreover, even if cataracts develop later, cataract surgery can still be performed, making this method superior to previous presbyopia correction surgery options. As a result, it is gaining recognition among those suffering from presbyopia.

3. South Korea: The Country Performing the Most Presbyopia and Cataract Surgeries Worldwide

South Korea is already a country that has performed a significant number of cataract surgeries worldwide.

According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in 2023, the total number of cataract surgeries performed in South Korea was 735,693, making it the top country for cataract surgeries. In comparison, the second-highest number of general spine surgeries was 23,902, which is 31 times less. This is a considerable figure compared to other countries around the world.

As the numbers indicate, South Korea has abundant experience and data in presbyopia and cataract surgeries, making the technology for presbyopia lens implantation highly advanced. As mentioned earlier, this is due to the similarity in surgical methods between cataract surgery and presbyopia lens implantation.

Among them, Bright Eye Clinic has performed numerous cataract and lens implantation surgeries over the years and is currently the clinic that has performed the most ArtiPlus presbyopia lens implantation surgeries worldwide.

Since the early introduction of the procedure, Bright Eye Clinic has opened a new chapter in improving presbyopia with stable surgical results through close research collaboration with the manufacturer, Ophtec. In South Korea, individuals in their 40s and 50s are at the peak of their economic and leisure activities, and presbyopia can be a significant obstacle in their lives.

Particularly, those who removed their glasses in their 20s and 30s due to vision correction may feel uncomfortable about needing glasses again due to presbyopia. This demand, coupled with advancements in technology, has led to the emergence of presbyopia lens implantation surgery, which provides an easier and more convenient solution for presbyopia. The most important factor in presbyopia lens implantation is patient satisfaction.

Since presbyopia correction is a choice rather than a necessity, I hope you will determine whether the surgery is truly necessary for you, whether it is suitable for your eyes, and whether it can be performed safely through thorough examinations and consultations.