Presbyopia

What Is It?

Presbyopia is a degenerative condition where the eye loses the ability to focus. Typically, symptoms become prevalent when a person is in his or her mid-40s. Objects will be difficult to see when close and in low lights, and vision problems might be accompanied by eye pain, fatigue, and headaches. As a person ages, the condition will continue to worsen. Presbyopia affects nearly everyone in their old age, and in most situations, symptoms are not a reason for worry. Regardless, medical attention is necessary since people will likely need contact lenses or glasses. Stronger prescriptions are required when the condition worsens.

Symptoms & Warning Signs

The condition can affect one or both eyes at different rates. Beginning in your mid-40s, you might notice that you have trouble reading text up close, especially in dim lighting. You'll experience headaches and fatigue, and your symptoms might improve when you hold the text or object further away. Symptoms will worsen over time. Eventually, your eyes will lose all ability to focus up close, and you will depend on reading glasses or contact lenses.

Causes & Risk Factors

All people are at risk for presbyopia. It is a natural process that occurs with age. It is also normal for the condition to become worse over time. Over time, the lens becomes less and less elastic until all of the elasticity is gone. If you notice your vision degenerating, it is important that you determine whether you are at risk for other conditions like diabetes, glaucoma, or cataracts. Your family's medical history might provide some indication of whether you should undergo tests for more serious conditions.

Prevention & Treatment

There is no cure for presbyopia. It is impossible to reverse the process, and it is also impossible to prevent your eyesight from degenerating further. Over-the-counter and prescription reading glasses are available to help people read.

Tests & Diagnosis

Routine eye exams are necessary for diagnosing presbyopia. Once your vision begins to degenerate, it is important that you keep getting tested once a year. If your vision degenerates at an abnormal rate, you might have a more serious condition that requires additional refractive tests. Blood tests might also be necessary, especially if the doctor suspects diabetes.