PRESBYOPIA (PREZ-BE-O-PEA) is a condition that occurs between 40-45 years of age in which the lens inside the eye gradually looses its elasticity, which prevents it from focusing clearly at close up distances, such as reading.

As we age, body tissues normally lose their elasticity. A familiar sign of that process is wrinkled skin. Our eyes are not immune to that type of change. Likes wrinkles, changes in the eye fortunately do not occur overnight, but gradually over a period of years.

Because of the loss of lens flexibility; it becomes more difficult for the lens to bend to the degree to provide clear vision.. Therefore, it not only becomes more difficult for the eye to focus on near objects (that require a greater degree of flexibility, the eye also does not adjust well to rapid changes in focus between far and near.

When you experience a change in vision, you may feel as though it happened suddenly, but has developed over many years; it just had not impaired your vision to such a degree that it was noticed.

SIGNS OF PRESBYOPIA

  • Finding yourself extending your arms out to read.
  • Blurred vision when doing close activities such as reading, sewing etc.
  • Headaches or fatigue when reading

DIAGNOSIS AND TREAMENT
Presbyopia is determined through a comprehensive eye/health examination. An exact prescription is determined to enable your eyes to focus correctly at near without eyestrain.

  • Diagnosed through an eye examination
  • Treated with glasses…..single vision or invisible bifocals (can't see the line)
  • Treated with contact lenses (disposble) or bifocal contacts

CAUTION WITH OVER-THE-COUNTER MAGNIFIERS
The symptoms of presbyopia are ALSO the same for many other eye / systemic conditions. One should not attempt to self diagnose by simply going to the drugstore and buying magnifying glasses.

 
The paragraph on the right is what print looks like to someone that has presbyopia, and needs reading glasses. Difficulty really begins when the print gets very small. This is a naturally occurring event which starts around 40 years of age.

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