Common Visual Conditions: Presbyopia
Presbyopia is experienced by everyone as they age. However, most people do not notice any significant problems until they are 40 to 50 years old. This is when they usually require reading or bifocal glasses for close work. In a normal eye, the lens changes shape when you look at close or distant objects. When you focus on objects at close range, eye muscles constrict and the lens thickens. During the aging process the lens becomes harder and less flexible, making it difficult to focus on close objects. Farsighted individuals may notice symptoms at an earlier age. Although this is a gradual process, it may seem sudden. As the lenses of the eyes lose their flexibility, periodic prescription changes are required, especially in the first few years of presbyopia.
Symptoms can include: objects blur at near, difficulty focusing back and forth from close and far distances, need to hold reading material far away, increased need for good light while reading.
Glasses may be simple reading glasses, bifocals, or multifocals. Contact lenses are possible in some cases.
To date, there is no way to prevent presbyopia.
