PresbyMAX is a laser profile from SCHWIND for presbyopia: the laser shapes the cornea in several zones, usually as hybrid monovision with one distance eye and one near eye. At EyeLaser Zürich, Dr. Victor Derhartunian performs PresbyMAX on the SCHWIND AMARIS 1050RS; the procedure takes around 15 minutes for both eyes and costs CHF 3’300 per eye in Zurich.
25’000
refractive procedures – performed personally by Dr. Victor Derhartunian
8
contributions at the ESCRS Congress 2026 – to the research page
10 years
enhancement included – provided you attend the annual check-up with us
Fixed price
per procedure – follow-up checks during the first three months included
PresbyMAX places a multi-power profile on your cornea. What matters is the data on which this profile is calculated. We work wavefront-guided: before treatment, we measure the aberrations of your cornea individually and have the ablation profile calculated from them — instead of applying a standard profile that would be the same for every eye.
The difference shows where it counts: in contrast and night vision. The more closely the profile matches the actual optics of your eye, the less scattered light occurs. Before treatment, we measure the aberrations as a corneal wavefront with the MS-39 AL; the SCHWIND AMARIS 1050RS, which we have been working with since 2016, then ablates the profile.
Presbyopia is not a disease, but a natural process. From the age of 40, the eye’s lens loses elasticity. It can no longer flex as easily to focus on near objects (accommodation). The result: letters blur, reading becomes strenuous, and reading glasses become necessary.
Transparent, binding and without hidden costs — as befits Swiss medicine.
«We recommend the method that suits your eyes — not the one that happens to be available. That is why we offer laser, corneal inlay and lens exchange in one place and only decide after the comprehensive pre-examination.»For PresbyMAX there is no randomised study and no meta-analysis, only case series with markedly varying results. We give you both ends of that range so that you can decide realistically.
91 %
achieved a near visual acuity of 0.1 logRAD or better without correction
largest published series, 716 eyes, six months. Baudu, Penin and Arba Mosquera 2013, PubMed 23317648; co-authors of the manufacturer SCHWIND involved
76 %
saw 20/25 or better at distance without correction
same series; 96 percent achieved distance and near together at 20/32 or better
41 %
achieved 20/20 at distance with both eyes
independent university study without manufacturer involvement, 29 evaluated patients, one year. Kohnen et al. 2020, PubMed 32773548
14 to 19 %
needed a touch-up within one year
Luger et al. 2015, 64 eyes bilateral (PubMed 26025425); Chan et al. 2017, 72 eyes, there PresbyMAX on one eye only in long-sighted patients (PubMed 28068445)
These figures come from published studies and are not our own data. Study populations differ in baseline values, time of measurement and definition of the outcome, so the figures are not directly comparable with one another. What is realistic for your eye, we tell you after the pre-examination.
Realistic guide values from our practice — your personal progress is closely monitored at the follow-up checks.
Transparency
The figures come from published studies and are not our own. We discuss them before every procedure.
| Risk | Frequency | Source | Course and what we do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enhancement needed | 14 to 19 % in the first year | Chan et al. 2017; Luger et al. 2015 | after healing and adjustment; included with us for up to ten years, provided you attend the annual check-up |
| Loss of two or more lines of best-corrected visual acuity | 7 % (64 eyes, one year) | Luger et al. 2015 | mainly contrast and sharpness with glasses; we measure beforehand how much multi-power profile your eye tolerates |
| Profile reversed | 3 % | Luger et al. 2015 | if adjustment does not succeed, the profile can be modified by laser |
| No objectively successful result | around 17 % (716 eyes, six months) | Baudu et al. 2013 | the reason why, in most cases, we test monovision beforehand with contact lenses |
| Halos, glare at night | no reliable frequency data | — | common in the first weeks, usually decreasing; if you drive a lot at night, we advise with particular caution |
| Dry eyes | no reliable frequency data for PresbyMAX | — | artificial tears; we treat existing dry eyes beforehand |
«Think of blood pressure treatment: you start with a tablet, measure again — and adjust the dose until the value is right. It is the same with the correction of presbyopia: we correct, the brain gets used to the new vision, and if necessary we fine-tune. An enhancement is not a setback but part of a precise treatment — and with us it is included in the fixed price.»
PresbyMAX shapes the cornea according to a multi-power principle, similar to varifocal glasses, only on the eye. The centre of the cornea is set for near vision, the periphery for distance; in between lies the range for screen and dashboard. With hybrid monovision, one eye favours distance, the other slightly near. The brain learns to use both images. This adjustment takes weeks, for some people months.
Safety and clarity are our top priorities. From the initial examination to the aftercare, you’ll know exactly what to expect.
At EyeLaser Zürich, PresbyMAX costs CHF 3’300 per eye, CHF 6’600 for both eyes. This applies to every laser treatment for presbyopia, including when we combine PresbyMAX with hybrid monovision.
All prices from age 45 at a glance · Laser eye surgery and health insurance
around 20 to 30 minutes: your wishes, everyday life, an initial assessment; the consultation is not conducted by a doctor.
around 90 minutes: corneal tomography, corneal wavefront, pupil, tear film, lens density; in most cases also a trial of monovision with contact lenses.
outpatient; the eye is anaesthetised with drops; around 15 minutes for both eyes. You must not drive yourself afterwards.
on the following day and during the first three months, included in the price.
weeks to months; if an enhancement is then needed, it is included.
| Age | usually from about 45; what matters is the condition of the lens, not the year of birth |
|---|---|
| Own lens | clear, without early cataract |
| Cornea | healthy, no keratoconus; sufficient thickness according to the KRC recommendations |
| Values | stable for at least one year; short- or long-sightedness is corrected at the same time |
| Monovision test | in most cases tested beforehand with contact lenses; the trial must be successful |
If the lens is already cloudy or the cornea is too thin, Allotex TransForm or a lens exchange may be an option. Check your suitability in one minute
You can find unedited testimonials from our patients in the Google reviews and on the Testimonials page. What is realistic for your eye is something we discuss after the pre-examination — using the study figures above as a benchmark.
🟢 Green: from about 45, clear lens, healthy cornea, stable values, monovision well tolerated in the trial (usually tested beforehand).
🟡 Amber: dry eyes, thin cornea, a lot of night driving — measure more precisely first, treat dry eyes beforehand.
🔴 Red: early cataract, keratoconus or another corneal disease — then lens exchange or treatment of the corneal disease is more likely; we advise you on both options.
| Feature | PresbyMAX | Allotex TransForm | Lens exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Principle | Laser shapes the cornea | Inlay made of donor corneal tissue | Artificial lens replaces your own lens |
| Typical age | from about 45 | about 45 to 65 | from about 45 with long-sightedness, from about 55 with all refractive errors, from about 60 usually the first choice |
| Short- or long-sightedness | corrected at the same time | only with good distance vision without glasses | corrected at the same time |
| Reversible | no | inlay can be removed | no |
| Later cataract | surgery possible, lens calculation more complex | surgery possible | can no longer develop |
| Price per eye | CHF 3’300 | CHF 5’000 | CHF 5’000 (with femtosecond laser CHF 6’000) |
PresbyMAX from SCHWIND is comparable to Presbyond® from ZEISS. We do not offer Presbyond. Both belong to PresbyLASIK: the laser places a profile with extended depth of focus on the cornea; one eye favours distance, the other near. The differences lie in the manufacturer, the laser platform and the shape of the profile. At EyeLaser Zürich, PresbyMAX runs on the SCHWIND AMARIS 1050RS; the price is CHF 3’300 per eye.
Two options: the one-minute eligibility test or a free initial consultation at Strehlgasse 33 in Zurich. The pre-examination then shows whether PresbyMAX is safe for your eyes.
Check suitability Call 044 221 95 02
Online appointmentOn the overview page laser eye surgery in Zurich you find all procedures side by side, with the suitability traffic light, documented results, healing timeline, fixed prices and instalment examples.
Other procedures at EyeLaser: SmartSight · Femto-LASIK 7D · Trans-PRK · SMILE or SmartSight? · ICL lens
By refractive error: Short-sightedness · Long-sightedness · Astigmatism · Presbyopia · Keratoconus
Costs and financing: All prices · Health insurance · Treatment process · Testimonials
The treatment is ideal for people from around 40 to 45 years of age, as soon as they regularly need reading glasses in everyday life – whether for reading the NZZ, on their smartphone or when working at the computer. What matters is not age alone, but the personal wish to be independent of reading glasses.
No. Thanks to highly effective anaesthetic eye drops, the procedure itself is largely painless. You may feel slight pressure, but no pain. After the treatment, a mild foreign-body sensation or watery eyes may occur for a few hours; this is normal and subsides quickly.
Most of our patients from the Zurich business region can return to work after just 1–2 days. Screen work may still be somewhat tiring in the first few days. Regular breaks and moisturising eye drops help a great deal.
Light activities such as hiking on the Uetliberg are often possible after 3–4 days. You should wait about 2 weeks before swimming (because of the risk of infection) and intensive sport. Skiing is advisable again after about 3 weeks, initially with well-fitting sunglasses or ski goggles to protect against wind and sun.
The change in corneal shape made by the laser is permanent. However, the natural ageing of your eye continues. Should you develop a cataract decades later, which is a normal ageing process, it can be operated on as usual; there are dedicated formulas for calculating the lens in eyes that have had laser treatment. The previous laser treatment is no obstacle.
Laser treatment of presbyopia is an elective procedure; basic health insurance does not pay for PresbyMAX. Supplementary insurance sometimes contributes CHF 500 to 1’500. EyeLaser Zürich recommends obtaining a cost approval before the procedure and will provide you with a detailed cost estimate for this purpose. PresbyMAX costs CHF 3’300 per eye.
Safety is very high. Our SCHWIND AMARIS 1050RS laser has an intelligent 7D eye-tracking system. It registers the position of your eye 1050 times per second and compensates in real time for even the tiniest involuntary movement. If you blink too hard or move your head, the laser stops immediately and resumes at exactly the same spot as soon as the eye is back in position.
PresbyMAX does not promise freedom from glasses in every situation. In the largest study, 91 % achieved good reading vision without glasses and 96 % achieved useful distance and near vision at the same time (Baudu et al. 2013, 716 eyes, six months). For very small print or poor light, some people still find a weak reading aid comfortable. At EyeLaser Zürich, we discuss what is realistic for your eye after the pre-examination.
In the first weeks after PresbyMAX, glare and halos around headlights are common; they usually decrease as you adapt. The studies do not provide a reliable figure for how many of these effects remain permanently. If you drive a lot at night for work, you should discuss this with us before the procedure; at EyeLaser Zürich, we test monovision with contact lenses beforehand in most cases.
If the cornea is too thin for PresbyMAX, we advise against laser treatment; at EyeLaser Zürich, the limit is based on the recommendations of the KRC and not on a fixed number. We then consider a lens replacement with an EDOF or trifocal lens for CHF 5’000 per eye. If your distance vision without glasses is good, Allotex TransForm is also an option, provided the cornea is healthy.
PresbyMAX is a SCHWIND profile and runs only on SCHWIND lasers. EyeLaser Zürich has worked with the SCHWIND AMARIS 1050RS since 2016; its eye tracker follows eye movement in seven dimensions. As an official SCHWIND reference centre, we train colleagues and receive software updates before they become generally available.
Dry eye is an important factor. In our comprehensive pre-examination, we analyse your tear film very closely. With mildly dry eyes, the treatment can often be carried out after appropriate pre-treatment. With pronounced dry eye syndrome, a lens exchange may be the better alternative. We advise you on this with complete transparency.
At first glance, it may seem so. However, think of it as a long-term investment in your quality of life and freedom. Add up the cost of the high-quality varifocal and reading glasses you would buy over the next 10–15 years. In the end, laser treatment is often the more economical and, above all, more comfortable solution.
Plan to spend about 2 hours with us in total on the day of treatment. The procedure itself takes only a few minutes. We strongly recommend that you have someone pick you up after the treatment or take a taxi, as you are not allowed to drive yourself immediately afterwards. We will give you protective sunglasses, and you can then recover at home in peace.
Not rarely: in studies, 14 to 19 % needed an enhancement in the first year (Chan et al. 2017; Luger et al. 2015). It is carried out after the adaptation period, usually after three to six months. At EyeLaser Zürich, an enhancement is included for up to ten years after the procedure, at no extra cost; the condition is an annual check-up with us.
PresbyMAX from SCHWIND is comparable to Presbyond® from ZEISS. We do not offer Presbyond. Both procedures apply a laser profile with extended depth of focus to the cornea and combine it with mild monovision. They differ in the manufacturer, the laser platform and the shape of the profile. At EyeLaser Zürich, PresbyMAX costs CHF 3’300 per eye.
At EyeLaser Zürich, PresbyMAX costs CHF 3’300 per eye, so CHF 6’600 for both eyes. This includes the procedure and the follow-up examinations during the first three months. The CHF 300 pre-examination is credited; you receive medication on prescription. Six monthly instalments are interest-free, which is CHF 550 per month and eye.
In most cases, we test the monovision component of PresbyMAX beforehand: you wear contact lenses for a few days with the same setting for the distance eye and the near eye. Sometimes this test is not necessary; we decide this during the pre-examination. If you cope well with it in everyday life, that is a good sign. If the trial does not work out, EyeLaser Zürich advises against PresbyMAX and discusses Allotex TransForm or a lens replacement with you.
