In 2001 I had laser eye surgery that eliminated the need for glasses to see things far away. I wore glasses for distance vision full time since grade seven, so a good two decades. The 2001 laser eye surgery was done in Edmonton and successful in every way. It was a miracle. No need for glasses for distance!
I knew laser eye surgery would not prevent the need for reading glasses as I aged, so no surprise when I got to around 50 years of age I needed reading glasses. I’ve worn them for a decade or so. Lately they’ve been a real bother as I do an immense amount of cycling and reading glasses means stopping, reaching for glasses in some zipped up pocket and checking the cell phone for map directions, maybe answering a call or text or looking for information. It also means poking them on under my helmet. Add that to the usual peskiness of looking for and using reading glasses every time I opened a book or device or read instructions on anything, so I found an ad for a local Victoria eye clinic of great interest. Lasik MD advertised a procedure that would lessen or eliminate the need for reading glasses. I signed up for a free consultation to see if I was a candidate, pricing, etc.
The first thing I learned was this procedure is unlike the familiar laser eye surgery everyone seems to think of. This is a Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE): “Rather than reshaping the surface cornea, RLE completely replaces the natural lens with an advanced artificial lens. This permanently addresses presbyopia.” (Or, the need for reading glasses). As a bonus your new lenses prevents you from ever developing cataracts in the future.
Lasik MD gave the usual precautionary notes and asterisks and never guaranteed perfect success. There is always risk and always risk of improvements in some areas but changes in other areas of vision. They confirmed I was a good candidate for the procedure and provided a quote which to me was eye popping, pardon the pun.
After chatting with friends and family and Jan I decided to go for it. The team at Lasik MD were very professional. Very honest about end results. No pressure. Back out any time. Very calming, assuring.
The day of the operation I went in at 8:30 am. Through the morning there was a lot of eye drops, waiting, more eye drops, more looking at my eyes. Around 11:30 I went in a room where a very impressive young eye surgeon did the procedure. Each eye took around 7 minutes. She removed old lens, inserted brand new lens. We chatted during the procedure and in around 25 minutes or so I left the room and relaxed. 90 minutes later Jan picked me up.
For a month I did eye drops up to four times a day. I put away the reading glasses the day of my surgery. I haven’t used them since!
Over time my brain seems to be adjusting to my new lenses. Eye drops made my vision slightly blurry at times that first month. As promised there are some side effects. They mentioned I may have slightly poorer distance vision. This doesn’t seem to be the case. Not that I can tell, anyhow. I have some minor halo effect around lights at night but to date not bothersome at all. I think I have less contrast reading ability, so I may reach for a light when reading something of poor contrast such as a newspaper, which has grey paper, black ink. Over time it seems to be improving and or I am adjusting. I do much of my reading on a digital reader, and have no issues at all with that. I can read my cell phone very, very well. Over time my brain seems to have adapted to the new lens and you automatically hold your phone or device at a certain distance, this was forecasted to me at the first preliminary visit.
So, I have not needed reading glasses, I have not carried them for a couple months. I can read my paper newspaper, I can use my cell phone perfectly and enjoy my reading device and books etc, wonderfully. No reading glasses. I am told this is permanent.
My goal of not needing reading glasses seems to have been reached. The surgery was August 7, 2026. Nearly two months later I still apply one eye drop dose a day on their advice. We have been travelling and I am enjoying not having to pack and carry reading glasses. One thing I really enjoy is before bed time, reading a book or newspaper to unwind on my reader device, setting it down on the bed and closing my eyes towards sleep. No need to take off reading glasses and set them on the night stand!
To date I don’t think I have met anyone who has had this procedure purely to lessen or eliminate the need for reading glasses. Many mix it up with the laser procedure done for curing distance vision.
It has been a delight to be able to read books, devices, small print on packages, newspapers and magazines, instructions, maps digital and print – without reading glasses. or any glasses! One forgets just how often you have to reach for reading glasses in the course of a day.
If you are are thinking of taking steps so you can say goodbye to reading glasses, a refractive lens exchange may be an option.
