OverviewPresbyopia is the gradual loss of your eyes' ability to focus on nearby objects. It's a natural, often annoying part of aging. Presbyopia usually becomes noticeable in your early to mid-40s and continues to worsen until around age 65. Show
You may become aware of presbyopia when you start holding books and newspapers at arm's length to be able to read them. A basic eye exam can confirm presbyopia. You can correct the condition with eyeglasses or contact lenses. You might also consider surgery. SymptomsPresbyopia develops gradually. You may first notice these signs and symptoms after age 40:
You may notice these symptoms are worse if you are tired or are in an area with dim lighting. When to see a doctorSee an eye doctor if blurry close-up vision is keeping you from reading, doing close-up work or enjoying other normal activities. He or she can determine whether you have presbyopia and advise you of your options. Seek immediate medical care if you:
CausesTo form an image, your eye relies on the cornea and the lens to focus the light reflected from objects. The closer the object, the more the lens flexes.
The lens, unlike the cornea, is somewhat flexible and can change shape with the help of a circular muscle that surrounds it. When you look at something at a distance, the circular muscle relaxes. When you look at something nearby, the muscle constricts, allowing the relatively elastic lens to curve and change its focusing power. Presbyopia is caused by a hardening of the lens of your eye, which occurs with aging. As your lens becomes less flexible, it can no longer change shape to focus on close-up images. As a result, these images appear out of focus. Risk factorsCertain factors can make you more likely to develop presbyopia, including:
Nov. 20, 2021
RelatedAssociated ProceduresProducts & ServicesWhat difficulty can affect older adult vision in which there is a progressive thickening of the lens?Presbyopia is caused by a hardening of the lens of your eye, which occurs with aging. As your lens becomes less flexible, it can no longer change shape to focus on close-up images. As a result, these images appear out of focus.
Which conditions can affect the vision of an elderly person?The most common causes of vision loss among the elderly are age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract and diabetic retinopathy. Age-related macular degeneration is characterized by the loss of central vision.
Which is a common cause of visual disturbances in older adults?The most common causes of age related visual impairment in the elderly are presbyopia, cataracts, age related macular degeneration, primary open angle glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Untreated visual impairment leads to physical handicap, increased incidence of fall, depression, social isolation and dependency.
Which of the following changes in vision is associated with aging?Cataracts. With a cataract, the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and your vision gets blurry. They're often associated with aging.
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