• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.65-73
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the changes in distance refractive power and reading addition that occur after wearing corrective glasses for prebyopia. Methods: The subjects aged 42 to 75 years who had no ophthalmologic diseases and did not undergo cataract or retina surgery, had a corrected visual acuity of 20/20 and did not have a previous history of wearing corrective glasses for presbyopia. These subjects were divided into 3 groups: the control, reading spectacles and multifocals wearing group and they were measured for distance refractive power and reading addition at their visit. The maximum follow-up period was 73 months. Results: As for distance refractive power, the power tends to shift to hyperopia depending on age (r=0.486, p<.001) and 50.0% of the subjects increased plus power during this study period. Plus power Increments per year in distance refractive power in the reading spectacle wearing group were significantly different with control and multifocals wearing group (p<.05). On the other hand, the multifocals wearing group's increments were not different with control. Increments in reading addition were also increased in the reading spectacles group than in the control and multifocals wearing groups (p<.05). Conclusions: The age related hyperopic shift could be occurred in the elderly people, routine refraction is mandatory. And reading spectacles could induce an age related hyperopic shift and the additional need for reading addition that the prescription of multifocals may reduce changes in distance refractive power and reading addition.