Presbyopia

Presbyopia – what is it?

As the eye ages, the lens loses elasticity, making it more difficult to see objects up close. At the age of 40–45, a person who previously had good vision may no longer be able to read or perform fine work at a normal distance. This condition is called age-related farsightedness (presbyopia).

Do you need reading glasses? If so, you most likely have presbyopia, a condition in which the eye loses its ability to focus. This usually occurs due to the natural aging process that everyone experiences. The first symptoms are often noticed around the age of forty, which is why so many middle-aged people need reading or bifocal glasses.

Causes of presbyopia

The causes of presbyopia are still being studied, but it is most commonly believed that the fibers surrounding the natural eye lens become firmer and lose elasticity, thereby reducing the eye’s ability to change the shape of the lens. As the lens becomes less elastic, it becomes harder to focus on nearby objects. Trauma, lifestyle, and occupation, such as prolonged work at a computer, may also contribute to presbyopia.

Presbyopia is a natural process, not a disease

This condition usually begins between the ages of 40 and 50. Presbyopia develops as the natural lens of the eye ages, becoming harder and less flexible, which typically results in the loss of clear near vision and the need for reading glasses.

How to protect yourself from presbyopia?

Unfortunately, presbyopia occurs naturally as we age. So far, doctors do not know how to prevent this vision deterioration. Practically everyone will experience symptoms of presbyopia by the age of 40, even if they previously had no vision problems. However, it is important to know that you should always take care of your eyes. Here are some ways to protect your eyes from any diseases:

• Regularly check your vision.
• Wear dark protective glasses in bright sunlight to protect your eyes from harmful UV exposure.
• Check your eyes more frequently if you are in a risk group – e.g., if you have diabetes or hypothyroidism.
• Always wear protective glasses when doing hazardous work, as even minor eye injuries can contribute to serious eye conditions.
• Eat a healthy diet. Healthy food ensures you get enough antioxidants and vitamins. Studies have shown that nutrients in fruits, vegetables, and fish can slow down the natural aging process of the eyes.
• Pay attention to symptoms such as headaches, severe eye fatigue, or blurred vision.

Do you notice presbyopia symptoms?

Presbyopia develops gradually, with most people noticing the first symptoms around the age of 40. Here are some symptoms that indicate early signs of presbyopia:

• Blurred vision at normal reading distance, including when wearing corrective glasses or contact lenses
• Headaches
• Fatigue when performing tasks requiring clear near vision, e.g., sewing

If you experience any of these symptoms, we recommend scheduling a consultation with an eye doctor.

Presbyopia surgery

If, for some reason, you do not want to wear glasses or contact lenses to correct age-related presbyopia, surgical treatment may help. This can be done using LASIK or PRK laser vision correction methods. If laser correction is not suitable for the patient, another surgical presbyopia treatment option is replacing the natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).

We invite you to the “New Vision” Eye Clinic, where during a consultation we will perform a comprehensive examination to determine whether presbyopia surgery is suitable for you, which operation is most appropriate, and what vision correction results can be expected.