Presbyopia
Presbyopia is a common condition that mostly affects people over the age of forty. It is a natural part of the ageing process and causes difficulty in focusing on objects and print when they are up close. It occurs due to a natural thickening and hardening of the crystalline lens in the eye which results in a loss of flexibility, affecting near focus. This condition does not affect distance vision but people with short sightedness can also develop presbyopia.
A common sign that a person may have this condition is that they will hold reading material and small items further away to help focus on them. This, and using better light may help in the short term but eventually vision aids such as glasses or contact lenses will be needed. If left undiagnosed, presbyopia can cause eye strain and headaches.
An optometrist can diagnose this condition by performing a general eye exam. Once diagnosed, presbyopia can be treated with prescription glasses or contact lenses. It is common for the condition to progress, requiring stronger prescriptions periodically until around 65 years of age. Bifocal and multifocal glasses may be prescribed for people with other eye conditions such as short sightedness
An optometrist can diagnose this condition by performing a general eye exam. Once diagnosed, presbyopia can be treated with prescription glasses or contact lenses. It is common for the condition to progress, requiring stronger prescriptions periodically until around 65 years of age. Bifocal and multifocal glasses may be prescribed for people with other eye conditions such as short sightedness