PRESBYOPIA (> 40 years old)

Blurry prints when reading your daily newspapers ? Holding the newspapers farther away to read? You are not alone. This happens to almost everyone at middle age.

 

What is Presbyopia ?

Presbyopia means "age of sight." It is a gradual loss of accommodation - the ability of the eye to adjust in order to see objects clearly at different distances. To accommodate this ability, the naturally elastic lens of the eye changes in shape and thereby adjusts its focusing power. Loss of accommodation occurs gradually throughout life. As the lens of the eye ages, it becomes less elastic, which results in less accommodative power.

Presbyopia can be easily corrected with glasses.

 

When does Presbyopia start?

Presbyopia may begin as early as age 36 or as late as 50. People with no refractive error (no need for corrective lenses) will usually notice presbyopia in their mid-40s. Farsighted people will notice presbyopia earlier, especially when they are not wearing their glasses. Also, some conditions such as diabetes can result in an earlier onset of presbyopia.

 

 

How do I know if I have Presbyopia?

The most common sign or symptom is the inability to read fine prints such as in the newspapers. Usually, people with presbyopia must hold their reading material farther from their eyes in order to read comfortably. Nearsighted people may need to take off their distance glasses in order to read.