Presbyopia
Presbyopia
What is presbyopia?
Presbyopia is when the eyes gradually lose the ability to see objects up close. It is a normal part of aging. In fact, the word “presbyopia” (from the Greek), means “old eye”. You may start to notice presbyopia soon after the age of 40. You may be holding what you are reading at a greater distance in order to read clearly.
What are the causes of presbyopia?
The clear lens rests inside the eye, behind the colored iris. It changes shape to focus light on the retina so you can see. When you are young, the lens is soft and flexible and can easily change shape. This allows you to focus on objects both near and far. After the age of 40, the lens becomes more rigid and cannot easily change shape. This makes it difficult to read, thread a needle, or do other tasks that require close vision.
There is no way to stop or reverse the normal aging process that causes presbyopia. However, presbyopia can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery. If you don’t correct presbyopia, you may experience discomfort caused by headaches and eye strain.