Did You Know?
The first signs of presbyopia usually develop after age 40, with symptoms typically leveling off by age 65. –AOA
It is sometimes called the “short arm syndrome” because of how far some people have to extend their arms to focus on reading materials.
There is no way to prevent presbyopia, but risk factors include age, exposure to ultraviolet rays, ocular disease or trauma, use of alcohol and certain prescription and non-prescription drugs, and poor nutrition. Women are also more likely to develop presbyopia. –AOA
As you get older, the lenses inside your eyes slowly lose their ability to focus at varying distances. You may start to have trouble viewing objects that are close to you, and even find yourself holding your reading material at an arm’s length to help you focus. You may also experience eye strain and fatigue. Known as presbyopia, this common condition can be detected early through a comprehensive eye exam.
What Causes Presbyopia?
In young people, the eye’s lens is soft and flexible, readily changing shape to see images from different distances. As you age, the crystalline lens in your eye hardens and loses elasticity. With this loss of flexibility, your eyes are less able to adjust properly to focus near objects.
What are the Symptoms of Presbyopia?
People commonly mistake the symptoms of presbyopia for farsightedness. However, the two conditions have different causes: farsightedness is a result of a misshapen cornea, whereas presbyopia is due to the loss of flexibility in the lens.
Presbyopia is a natural occurrence where near vision becomes blurred, making it hard to focus while doing things like reading, using a cell phone, working on the computer, or doing anything that requires near vision. It is not a disease or illness; in fact, it is very common with age.
What are the Treatment Options?
Depending on the individual, presbyopia may be treated with corrective eyeglasses or contacts, or with refractive surgery.
While bifocal lenses used to be a widely used option, today’s progressive-addition lenses (PALs) can offer a popular alternative. Often referred to as “no-line bifocals – because the gradual curves eliminate visible lines – PALs don’t just provide a vision correction for near and far, but also a smooth transition between all different distances. You can look upwards to see objects far away, straight ahead to see things that are in your immediate area, and downwards to focus on very close or fine objects. Unlike “reading glasses,” the right pair of PALs can allow you to wear one pair of glasses for most of your daily activities.
Some glasses and contacts also address specific occupational needs – such as computer usage. Make sure to talk to your eye care professional to determine what type eye wear will best suit your lifestyle needs.
Source: http://www.bausch.com/en/Eye-concerns/Vision-Correction/Presbyopia and Transitions Healthy Sight for Life