Presbyopia: Age-related Farsightedness

Presbyopia is farsightedness that usually develops after age 40. Most doctors agree that presbyopia results from the thickening and loss of flexibility of the crystalline lens. Contact us today to learn more.

Causes of Presbyopia

Unlike other conditions that affect your vision, presbyopia is unrelated to the shape of the eye. This condition, quite simply, comes as a result of aging. Anyone can develop presbyopia, regardless of whether they have ever had any other vision problems. Presbyopia typically begins to manifest during middle age, causing blurred vision when engaging in activities such as reading or using the computer.

Normally, when focusing on a close object, the muscles around the eye lens contract, changing the curve of the lens. As we age, the proteins in the lens thicken and lose flexibility. Thus, the lens becomes harder and less elastic. With this decrease in the flexibility of the lens, muscles cannot change its shape as easily, causing a loss of ability to focus on nearby objects.

Presbyopia develops gradually, and common symptoms include:

  • Having to hold pictures and reading material at arm’s length in order to focus and see letters clearly
  • Blurry vision when trying to read at a normal distance
  • Headaches or strained eyes after reading, using the computer, or doing close work

These symptoms may worsen if you are tired or in a dimly lit area.

While presbyopia cannot be cured, we offer treatments to allow patients to live comfortably with the condition. Many patients find they simply need a pair of reading glasses, which our doctors can prescribe. Patients who also need a prescription for distance vision may opt to purchase bifocal or progressive lenses, which will allow their eyes to focus on objects both far away and close-up.

We can also provide monovision contact lens correction, which simply entails the patient wearing a lens with the distance prescription in one eye, and a lens with the close-up prescription in the other eye. The brain quickly adapts and learns to favor the correct eye for the task at hand. If you are pleased with the results of your monovision lens correction, we also offer monovision LASIK.

Ready to see clearly?

We can help you decide if Laser Corrective Surgery is right for you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

REQUEST A CONSULTATION