What is Presbyopia? Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Just like the rest of your body, your eyes and vision also undergo various changes as we grow older. It is a very common and natural phenomena and can be effectively treated for a healthier lifestyle. In today's blog, we will be discussing one of the more common eye health conditions in the elderly - presbyopia. 

Presbyopia is a natural condition that affects most people in their mid-40s or early 50s. It is a common age-related eye health condition. 

Let's discuss everything you need to know about presbyopia, including its causes, symptoms, and treatment options. Read on. 

What is Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is a common age-related condition that affects a person's ability to see things up close. Remember how our grandparents would get too close to screens, books or particular objects to be able to read them properly. 

The word "presbyopia" comes from the Greek words "presbys," meaning "old," and "ops," meaning "eye." It occurs when the lens of the eye becomes less flexible, making it harder to focus on objects up close.

Causes of Presbyopia

The exact cause of presbyopia is not fully understood by the medical science, but it is believed to be related to the natural aging process of the eye. As we age, the lens of the eye becomes less flexible, making it harder to focus on objects up close.

Apart from the loss of flexibility in your eyes, there are other factors that may contribute to presbyopia that include:

• Genetics
• Environmental factors,
• And certain medical conditions

Symptoms of Presbyopia

The most common symptom of presbyopia is difficulty seeing things up close, such as reading a book, working on a computer, or threading a needle.

Other symptoms may include eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to schedule an eye exam with your optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Treatment of Presbyopia

Presbyopia can be diagnosed during a comprehensive eye exam. Your eye doctor will perform various tests to evaluate your vision, including a visual acuity test, a refraction test, and a slit-lamp examination.

They may also perform a comprehensive eye health evaluation to check for any underlying eye conditions.

Presbyopia can be treated with various options, including contact lenses, and surgery. The most common treatment option is getting contact lenses for reading, which can help you see objects up close more clearly.

Bifocal or multifocal lenses may also be prescribed to correct both distance and near vision.

Contact lenses can also be used to correct presbyopia, including monovision lenses, which are designed to correct one eye for distance and one eye for near vision. Another option is multifocal contact lenses, which provide multiple zones of vision correction.

The Takeaway

In conclusion, presbyopia is a common age-related condition that affects most people in their mid-40s or early 50s. While it can be frustrating to experience difficulty seeing things up close, there are various treatment options available to help correct the condition.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of presbyopia, it is important to schedule an eye exam with your eye doctor to determine the best course of treatment for you.

Stay tuned for more information on eye health and contact lens care.