What is Presbyopia?
As we reach middle age, particularly after age 40, it is common to start to experience difficulty with reading and performing other tasks that require near vision. This is because with age, the lens of our eye becomes increasingly inflexible, making it harder to focus on close objects.
This condition is called presbyopia and eventually it happens to everyone who reaches old age to some extent.
To avoid eyestrain, people with untreated presbyopia tend to hold books, magazines, newspapers, and menus at arm's length in order to focus properly.
Trying to performing tasks at close range can sometimes cause headaches, eye strain or fatigue in individuals who have developed this condition.

Causes Of Presbyopia
During our youth, the lens of our eye and the muscles that control it are flexible and soft, allowing us to focus on close objects and shift focus from close to distant objects without difficulty.
As the eye ages however, both the lens and the muscle fibers begin to harden, making near vision a greater challenge.
Presbyopia is a natural result of the aging process and not much can be done to prevent it. Its onset has nothing to do with whether you already have another vision impairment such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.
Everyone will notice some degree of loss of near vision focusing power as they age, although for some it will be more significant than others.

Symptoms And Signs Of Presbyopia
Symptoms begin around the age of 40 when you begin to see people with untreated presbyopia holding books, magazines, newspapers, and menus at arm’s length in order to focus properly and avoid eye strain.
Trying to performing tasks at close range can sometimes cause headaches, eye strain or fatigue in individuals who have developed this condition.
Other symptoms include headaches or fatigue when trying to focus on something at close range.
Presbyopia is characterized by:
- Difficulty focusing on small print
- Blurred near vision
- Experiencing eyestrain, fatigue or headaches when doing close work or reading
- Needing to hold reading material or small objects at a distance to focus properly
- Requiring brighter lighting when focusing on near objects
Presbyopia can be diagnosed in a comprehensive eye exam.
Treatment For Presbyopia
There are a number of options available for treating presbyopia including corrective eyewear, contact lenses or surgery.