Monday, June 14, 2010

News update Ditch those reading specs So far, 11 patients here have had new treatment that helps fix 'old sight'

Parkway Eye Centre's Dr Lee Hung Ming examining a patient for the treatment, which has been approved for use only in Singapore and Europe. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN

A NEW, painless treatment for presbyopia or 'old sight', which hits most people in their mid-40s, is now here and 11 people have undergone it.
The non-surgical treatment from Germany involves changing the curvature of the patient's cornea by introducing five concentric circles of microscopic air bubbles into its surface using a laser.
When the air bubbles dissipate in about three hours, the shape of the cornea is improved in its centre so the patient can read without needing reading glasses.