Presbyopia refers to the loss of clear close-up vision when your eye’s lens gets less flexible over time. This natural part of aging usually starts in your 40s, with symptoms ranging from blurry close-up vision to headaches to eye strain. Solutions include eyeglasses, contacts, and surgery. Presbyopia is common, with 1.8 billion people having this condition globally – estimated to rise to 2.1 billion by 2030, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Regular eye exams in Austin TX can determine if you suffer from presbyopia.
Symptoms of Presbyopia
Top signs and symptoms of presbyopia include:
- Blurry vision at normal reading distance.
- Needing more light when reading.
- Needing to hold reading material at arm’s length.
- Headaches from doing close-up detail work.
- Eye strain, which results in tired and sore eyes.
Causes are varied. Age is the biggest culprit. In the first few decades of life, the lens of your eye is flexible and soft. It can easily change shape when shifting your vision from something close up to something far away, and vice versa, allowing light to land on your retina for clear vision.
With age, the lens becomes less flexible and has increased difficulty focusing light properly. The first signs of presbyopia start in your 40s, leveling off in your mid-60s. Picture this: your eye lens continues to grow as your eyes do, with new layers of cells forming (like an onion). Thus, your lens thickens and gets less flexible, which makes it difficult for light to land properly on your retina. The result? Your close-up vision gets blurry.
Risk Factors
Age is the biggest risk factor, but certain medications and medical conditions can also cause the onset of presbyopia in those younger than 40 — known as premature presbyopia.
Here’s a look at the main risk factors for premature presbyopia:
- Farsightedness
- Medications like antidepressants and antihistamines
- Conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and multiple sclerosis (MS).
Diagnosis
Your eye doctor in Austin TX will be able to diagnose presbyopia via an eye exam, specifically with a refraction assessment. This measures how well you can see objects at certain distances. This will help determine if you have presbyopia or astigmatism, or if you are farsighted or nearsighted.
Treatment
There are many ways to correct presbyopia. Your eye care specialist will recommend the best one for you based on your lifestyle.
- Eyeglasses: Readers, bifocals, trifocals, progressives
- Contact lenses: Bifocal lenses, multifocal lenses, monovision lenses, modified monovision lenses
- Eye drops: Pilocarpine eye drops
- Surgery: Laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE)
Prevention
While you can’t technically prevent presbyopia since it comes with the natural process of aging, there are some things you can do to protect your eye health.
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
- Eat foods with lots of nutrients to promote eye health (vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, and lutein).
- Understand computer vision syndrome (CVS) and reduce eye strain by making adjustments in your routine. CVS, a temporary condition that causes vision problems and eye discomfort, is a result of prolonged use of digital screens (computers, tablets, smartphones).
If you suspect you may have presbyopia, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your Austin eye doctor right away.
Schedule an Appointment With Broberg Eye Care
Our team of eye doctors is well-versed in the signs, symptoms, and treatments for presbyopia. Book a consultation with us online to determine if you have presbyopia, or any other concerning eye condition.
