Presbyopia
Condition
Definition
Presbyopia is a vision problem. It slowly makes it harder to see things up close. Different options can help correct vision.
Causes
Presbyopia is caused by a stiffening of the lens of the eye. This makes it hard for the lens to change shape and focus on close objects. This condition happens as people age.
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Presbyopia is more common people over 40 years of age.
Symptoms
Problems may be:
- Holding items at arm's length to focus on them
- Blurred vision when reading
- Headaches and eye strain from close work, such as:
- Reading
- Sewing
- Computer work
Diagnosis
An eye doctor will ask about symptoms and past health. An eye exam will be done. This is enough to make the diagnosis.
Treatment
This problem is treated with corrective lenses.
Prevention
There are no current guidelines to prevent presbyopia.
Glasses
A person may choose to wear:
- Eyeglasses for close-up vision
- Bifocals, which are lenses with:
- Distance vision in the upper half AND
- Close-up vision in the bottom half
- Trifocals—medium range lens in between the distance and close-up vision portions
- Progressive lenses—gradually increase close-up vision as a person looks down on the lens
Glasses
A person may choose to wear:
- Eyeglasses for close-up vision
- Bifocals, which are lenses with:
- Distance vision in the upper half AND
- Close-up vision in the bottom half
- Trifocals—medium range lens in between the distance and close-up vision portions
- Progressive lenses—gradually increase close-up vision as a person looks down on the lens
Contact Lenses
Contact lens options are:
- Bifocal contacts that have:
- Distance vision in the upper half of the lenses and
- Close-up vision in the bottom half
- Monovision contacts where:
- A lens is worn in one eye for distance vision and
- A lens is worn in the other eye for close-up vision
Surgery
Some people may choose to have surgery. Options are:
- Conductive keratoplasty (CK)—A small probe is placed in one eye. This is to reshape the cornea for close-up vision. The other eye is used for distance vision.
- Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK)—Laser beams reshape the cornea and fix problems with focus.
- Multifocal intraocular lenses—The eye's natural lenses are replaced with new lenses. The new lenses focus on both distant and near objects.
American Optometric Association
National Eye Institute
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Association of Optometrists
Canadian Ophthalmological Society
American Optometric Association
National Eye Institute
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Association of Optometrists
Canadian Ophthalmological Society
References
- Comprehensive geriatric assessment. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/prevention/comprehensive-geriatric-assessment.
- Presbyopia. American Optometric Association website. Available at: http://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/eye-and-vision-problems/glossary-of-eye-and-vision-conditions/presbyopia.
- What is presbyopia? American Academy of Ophthalmology website. Available at: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-presbyopia.
- Wolffsohn JS, Davies LN. Presbyopia: effectiveness of correction strategies. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2019;68:124-143.
Contributors
- Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
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