What is presbyopia?

Presbyopia is where your eyes lose their ability to focus on objects up close. It is a natural, normal part of aging in which the lens of your eye increases in size and loses its elasticity and flexibility.

Do you hold your phone at arm’s length to be able to read it? An eye exam from your doctor of optometry can confirm presbyopia, and talk to you about how to treat it.

What are the symptoms of presbyopia?

Some signs and symptoms of presbyopia include:

• the need to hold reading materials further away from the eyes,
• blurred vision at a normal reading distance,
• difficulties reading in dim light,
• eye fatigue and headaches when attempting to do close work.

You may start to notice these symptoms after age 40, though this varies from person to person. Although presbyopia may seem to develop suddenly, the actual decline takes place over the course of many years.

Can presbyopia be prevented?

Presbyopia is a natural part of the aging process and cannot be prevented.

How is presbyopia diagnosed?

A comprehensive eye examination by a doctor of optometry will include testing to determine the quality of your near vision, and the diagnosis of presbyopia, if present.

Other common vision conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism can be complicated by the visual demands associated with presbyopia.

How is presbyopia treated?

To compensate for presbyopia, doctors of optometry prescribe reading glasses, bifocals, trifocals, progressives or contact lenses. Your doctor of optometry will talk to you about your eye health and perform other tests to determine the best style of lenses for you to see clearly.

Contact lenses and laser surgery can be used to provide “monovision” for patients. By doing this, the dominant eye is corrected for distance vision and the non-dominant eye is corrected for near vision. Monovision works well for some people, but not everyone. People who require good distance visual acuity with both eyes, such as pilots or police officers, may not be suitable candidates for monovision. The same is true of graphic designers and writers who require good near vision. Your doctor of optometry can discuss monovision with you to help determine if this is the right option for you.

Will I have to wear glasses all the time?

This will depend on a number of factors, including any other vision conditions you have. You may only need your glasses for reading, computer use or other close work. However, you may find that wearing glasses all the time is more beneficial and convenient for your visual demands, especially if your activities involve multi-tasking at a variety of distances. In these circumstances, multifocals may work most effectively.

Can I still wear contact lenses?

You will likely be able to wear contact lenses part-time or full-time, depending on your prescription and your daily visual needs. Your doctor of optometry will tell you about your options and help you decide what is best for you.

Why are frequent lens changes necessary after 40?

The effects of presbyopia gradually change your eyes’ ability to focus properly. From start to finish, this usually occurs over a ten year period. As a result, approximately every two to three years, changes in your eyewear are necessary to maintain correct vision.