Age-Appropriate Vision Correction Surgery

 

As school vacations or new semesters approach, more parents and students are visiting ophthalmology clinics to consult about vision correction. The discomfort experienced by people in their 20s and those in their 40s to 50s—when presbyopia typically begins—arises from different causes. Therefore, customized vision correction surgery that fully reflects the individual’s eye condition and age-specific characteristics is necessary.

In today’s post, I will organize and share helpful information on which types of vision correction surgery are recommended for different age groups.

1. Teens: Dream Lenses, Excellent for Correcting Myopia and Astigmatism

Childhood and adolescence are important growth stages marked by increased physical activity.

During this period, Dream Lenses have gained attention as a method to safely manage vision while enjoying various activities.

Dream Lenses are special lenses worn at night that temporarily correct vision during sleep.

They are used to correct myopia and astigmatism. After wearing them before bedtime and removing them in the morning, users can enjoy clear eyesight without glasses or contacts throughout the day.

This method, which combines safety and convenience, is considered a suitable vision correction option for physically active growing teenagers.

▲ Structure of Dream Lenses

Dream lenses temporarily reshape the cornea to correct refractive errors. When usage is discontinued, the cornea returns to its original shape, and the corrective effect gradually disappears. According to a report by the Korean Ophthalmological Society, more than 80% of teenagers have myopia, and over 12% suffer from high myopia.

Myopia that begins at an early age tends to progress rapidly during growth. Dream lenses have been shown to be effective in slowing the progression of myopia in growing children and adolescents, with studies reporting about a 50% reduction in myopia progression compared to wearing glasses.

Wearing the lenses during about 7–8 hours of sleep produces the maximum effect, helping users maintain clear vision throughout the day.

2. Ages 20–30: SMILE for Quick Return to Daily Life

The 20s to 30s are a time when myopia progression slows as eye growth stops, but physical activity is at its peak.

Therefore, if you are considering vision correction surgery during this period, choosing SMILE—a procedure that allows for a quick return to daily life—is recommended.

▲ Research comparing SMILE and LASIK

LASEK and LASIK require cutting or damaging the corneal epithelium, which results in longer recovery times and restrictions on returning to daily activities. SMILE, on the other hand, proceeds by precisely separating the corneal stroma without touching the epithelium, then removing a small piece of corneal tissue called a lenticule through a tiny incision.

This method minimizes corneal damage, provides strong stability against external impacts, and allows for a much faster recovery, enabling patients to resume daily activities as early as the day after surgery. Recently, the introduction of SMILE Pro, an advanced version of SMILE, has made even more precise and rapid vision correction possible.

3. Ages 40–50: Presbyopia Lens Implantation for Aging Eyes

Among the body’s aging processes, the eyes begin to age first around the 40s, marking the onset of presbyopia and an increased risk of retinal diseases. Presbyopia is a natural aging process that typically begins in the mid-40s and is characterized by difficulty seeing nearby objects clearly.

To address presbyopia, corrective surgeries have continuously advanced. Initially, excimer lasers were used to reshape the cornea. Later, the technology progressed to second-generation surgeries where the natural lens is removed and replaced with multifocal intraocular lenses.

Currently, presbyopia lens implantation using Ophtec’s ArtiPlus lens has become recognized as a third-generation presbyopia correction method.

The ArtiPlus lens was developed by Ophtec, a Dutch company with over 40 years of accumulated ophthalmic lens expertise.

This lens combines iris-fixation technology from the ArtiFlex lens—which has been in use for over 30 years—with the CTF optic design, proven safe and effective through tens of thousands of surgeries.

▲ (From top) Differences between Monofocal, Multifocal, and Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) Intraocular Lenses

The reason ArtiPlus is suitable for presbyopia correction is that it evenly distributes light coming from near, intermediate, and far distances, providing a natural field of vision. This lens can simultaneously correct farsightedness from +2D, high myopia up to -15D, and presbyopia after implantation, making it possible to achieve high-quality vision without the need for reading glasses or spectacles. This is one of its major advantages.

4. Age 60 and Above: High Risk of Vision Loss, Multifocal Intraocular Lens Implantation

After the age of 60, the risk of eye diseases that can cause blindness—such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration—increases significantly. Many patients in this age group visit clinics complaining of cataract symptoms.

Cataracts cause the lens inside the eye to become cloudy, leading to decreased vision, double vision (diplopia), or increased glare in bright environments. Since cataracts progress slowly in the early stages, symptoms may be mild and easily mistaken for presbyopia.

Therefore, regular ophthalmic examinations are necessary for early detection and management.

Presbyopia results from the lens becoming stiff and losing elasticity, reducing its ability to focus on nearby objects, whereas cataracts are characterized by clouding of the lens, blurred vision, and severe glare in bright light.

The fundamental treatment for cataracts is surgery. Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a multifocal intraocular lens.

▲ Multifocal Intraocular Lens Surgery Procedure

Multifocal lenses are a practical method that can simultaneously improve cataracts, presbyopia, and astigmatism. They are especially considered a suitable treatment option for patients who lead active lifestyles.

Early diagnosis and treatment of cataracts are very important. Although symptoms may be mild in the beginning, regular eye exams help detect the condition quickly and ensure appropriate treatment, which is essential for vision recovery and maintaining quality of life.

Today, we explored recommended vision correction procedures by age group. While many people regularly undergo general health checkups and manage their overall health, eye care is often neglected in comparison.

Eye health varies with age, and appropriate vision correction methods differ accordingly, so continuous attention and regular eye examinations are very important.

As we welcome the new year 2025, we encourage you to visit an eye clinic with your family for essential eye exams and to consider suitable vision correction options.

Thank you for your time!