VISION Launches PresbyMAX® – An Innovative Laser Treatment for Presbyopia
- If you’ve recently found yourself holding your phone farther away just to read a text…
- If you need brighter light to enjoy reading a book…
- If restaurant menus are becoming increasingly difficult to read…
- Or if you never leave home without your reading glasses…
…YOU’RE NOT ALONE.
This is a natural change in vision that affects almost everyone after the age of 40–45.
Until recently, the most common solutions were reading glasses or progressive lenses. Today, advances in laser vision correction offer a new alternative.
VISION Eye Hospital is the first in Bulgaria to introduce PresbyMAX®—SCHWIND’s latest-generation laser technology, developed specifically for people who begin to need reading glasses after the age of 40–45.
Why does near vision become more difficult after the age of 40?
Many people assume they have suddenly become farsighted. In reality, the cause is different.
As we age, the eye’s natural crystalline lens gradually loses its elasticity and can no longer change focus as easily as it once did. As a result, everyday activities such as reading a book, using a smartphone, working on a computer, or reading small print become increasingly challenging.
How far away do we need to hold text in order to see it clearly?
How the minimum distance for clear near vision changes with age.
This condition is called presbyopia—an age-related loss of near focusing ability. It is a natural part of the aging process, not a disease, and sooner or later affects nearly everyone.
The First PresbyMAX® Procedure Available in Bulgaria
Until now, people with presbyopia had limited options for correcting their near vision—primarily reading glasses, progressive lenses, or contact lenses.
Today, for the first time in Bulgaria, patients have access to PresbyMAX®, an advanced laser vision correction technology that can significantly reduce—or, in carefully selected patients, even eliminate—the need for reading glasses.
The introduction of PresbyMAX® marks another important milestone in VISION Eye Hospital’s commitment to providing patients with access to the world’s most advanced ophthalmic technologies.
What Is PresbyMAX®?
PresbyMAX® is an advanced laser vision correction procedure specifically designed to treat presbyopia.
Using highly precise corneal reshaping, the procedure enhances the eye’s ability to provide functional vision at near, intermediate, and distance ranges. The goal is to restore greater visual independence, allowing patients to perform everyday activities with less reliance on reading glasses.
The procedure is performed using the SCHWIND AMARIS excimer laser—one of the world’s most advanced and clinically proven laser platforms.
Do You Recognize These Symptoms?
You may have presbyopia if you:
- Hold your phone farther away to read text.
- Frequently put your reading glasses on and take them off throughout the day.
- Need brighter light for reading.
- Struggle to read restaurant menus, labels, or small print.
- Find computer work more difficult than before.
- Reach for your reading glasses more and more often.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
PresbyMAX® may be an appropriate option if you:
- Are over the age of 40–45.
- Have presbyopia.
- Would like to reduce your dependence on reading glasses.
- Have otherwise healthy eyes.
Every patient undergoes a comprehensive eye examination, including specialized diagnostic measurements and an individual assessment, to determine whether PresbyMAX® is the most suitable treatment option.
What Does the Procedure Involve?
The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and takes only a few minutes.
It is carried out under topical anesthetic eye drops, without surgical incisions and without the need for hospitalization.
Most patients can return to their normal daily activities within a few days, while following the postoperative instructions provided by their ophthalmologist.
Benefits of PresbyMAX®
- May significantly reduce—or, in suitable patients, eliminate—the need for reading glasses.
- Provides improved vision at near, intermediate, and distance ranges.
- Quick and painless procedure.
- Rapid visual recovery.
- No hospital stay required.
- Individually customized treatment based on the unique characteristics of each eye.
- If a patient does not adapt satisfactorily to the new visual profile, the treatment can be reversed through a subsequent laser procedure.
Why Is This Important?
Until now, this type of laser treatment for presbyopia has not been available in Bulgaria.
With the introduction of PresbyMAX®, VISION Eye Hospital becomes the first hospital in the country to offer this innovative technology, giving patients access to world-class treatment without the need to travel abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PresbyMAX®?
PresbyMAX® is an innovative laser vision correction procedure specifically designed for people over the age of 40–45 who begin to experience difficulty seeing up close. By precisely reshaping the cornea, the procedure improves vision at near, intermediate, and distance ranges and may significantly reduce—or even eliminate—the need for reading glasses in suitable candidates.
What is presbyopia?
Presbyopia is a natural age-related change in vision that affects almost everyone after the age of 40–45. It occurs because the eye’s natural crystalline lens gradually loses its elasticity and can no longer focus easily on nearby objects.
Are the results of PresbyMAX® permanent?
The laser correction itself is permanent. Once the cornea has been reshaped, it does not return to its original form.
However, it is important to understand that the natural aging process of the eye continues. Vision may continue to change over time due to age-related changes or the development of cataracts. For many patients, PresbyMAX® provides years of significantly reduced dependence on reading glasses.
Will I need another procedure in the future?
In most cases, no.
For some patients, an additional laser enhancement may be possible if the ophthalmologist determines that it is appropriate. This depends on the individual characteristics of the eye and the condition of the cornea.
What happens if I develop cataracts later in life?
PresbyMAX® does not prevent cataracts from developing.
If cataracts occur later in life, they are treated using the standard cataract surgery procedure, in which the natural lens is replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL). Having undergone PresbyMAX® does not prevent successful cataract surgery in the future.
Is there an upper age limit for the procedure?
There is no strict upper age limit.
More important than age are the overall health of the eyes, the clarity of the natural lens, and the absence of contraindications. Suitability is determined after a comprehensive ophthalmic examination.
Is there a prescription (diopter) limit?
Yes.
Like all laser vision correction procedures, PresbyMAX® has specific treatment parameters. Eligibility depends not only on the refractive error but also on corneal thickness, corneal health, pupil size, and other individual anatomical factors.
How is PresbyMAX® different from standard laser vision correction?
Conventional laser vision correction is primarily designed to treat myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, usually providing excellent vision at a single distance—most commonly for distance vision.
After the age of 40–45, however, the issue is no longer only the prescription. The natural lens gradually loses its ability to change focus between near and far.
PresbyMAX® was specifically developed for this stage of life. The procedure creates an extended depth of focus, allowing the eye to achieve better functional vision at near, intermediate, and distance ranges.
If I am over 45, why can’t I simply have standard laser vision correction?
You can, provided you are a suitable candidate.
However, conventional laser vision correction does not restore the eye’s ability to focus at near distances. While it may provide excellent distance vision, many patients over 45 still require reading glasses.
PresbyMAX® was specifically developed for people who wish to reduce their dependence on reading glasses.
Is the procedure painful?
No.
The procedure is performed under topical anesthetic eye drops, without incisions or pain. It takes only a few minutes, and recovery is generally rapid.
Will I still need reading glasses?
The goal of PresbyMAX® is to reduce or eliminate the need for reading glasses in suitable candidates. Individual results vary depending on each patient’s visual needs and the characteristics of their eyes.
How long is the recovery period?
Initial recovery is typically rapid, while vision continues to stabilize gradually over the following weeks.
Am I a candidate if I already wear progressive lenses?
Many people who wear progressive glasses are suitable candidates for PresbyMAX®. This can only be determined after a comprehensive eye examination and specialist assessment.
Book Your Consultation Today
If you’re over 40 and becoming increasingly dependent on reading glasses, discover whether PresbyMAX® is the right solution for you.
