Have you noticed you need to hold menus, books, or labels farther away to see them clearly? You may be experiencing presbyopia. It’s a condition that happens as you age and lose the ability to see things clearly up close.
You can’t prevent it from happening, but you can correct it with glasses, contact lenses, medication, or surgery.
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What Is Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is a type of refractive disorder, meaning your eye can’t bend, or refract, light correctly, which causes blurry vision. In those with presbyopia, the blurry vision is confined to objects that are close to you, like words on a page or a screen.
Presbyopia is a normal part of aging. When you are younger, the part of your eye called the lens is flexible, and it changes shape in order to bend light and see things far away or up close.
As you age, the lens becomes more rigid and loses its ability to change shape. That makes it difficult to focus on objects nearby.
Many people fix this issue with over-the-counter reading glasses. But if you have other refractive disorders, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, you should see your eye doctor to get glasses, contact lenses, or surgery that can address all your conditions.
How common is presbyopia?
Presbyopia is very common as you age. Many people will notice a change in their mid-40s, but it could happen sooner or later than that for other people.
What causes presbyopia?
Presbyopia is part of the aging process. When you get older, the part of your eye called the lens becomes rigid, preventing it from bending light onto the retina. This makes your vision blurry when you try to focus on objects that are close to you, like your watch or words on a page or a screen.
Presbyopia risk factors
The main risk factor for presbyopia is age. However, some conditions can increase your risk of developing presbyopia sooner:
Complications of presbyopia
Left undiagnosed or untreated, presbyopia can lead to frequent headaches and eye strain.
How can I reduce my risks of presbyopia?
Presbyopia is a natural part of the aging process and can’t be prevented.
Some online videos claim that practicing certain exercises can reduce presbyopia. However, these exercises will not stop the lens of your eye from becoming rigid.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Presbyopia?
If you have presbyopia, you may may notice:
- Difficulty reading small print on a page or a screen.
- Eye strain.
- Frequent headaches.
- Problems seeing objects that are close to you.
When should I see a doctor about my presbyopia symptoms?
If you are over 40 and notice that it’s become difficult to see objects up close, you should make an appointment with your eye doctor.
Many people use over-the-counter reading glasses to correct this issue. However, your eye doctor can ensure you have the right prescription. This is especially important if you have another refractive disorder, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
How Do You Diagnose Presbyopia?
Your provider can diagnose presbyopia with a thorough eye exam. They will take your medical history and ask you about your symptoms. Then, they will do an exam that includes tests for presbyopia.
Tests to diagnose presbyopia
- Dilation — Your provider may dilate your eyes with drops. This widens the pupils and allows your provider to look inside your eye.
- Eye chart test — Your provider will ask you to read letters on a chart or in a book. This allows them to determine how well you see at different distances.
- Refraction test — During this test, your provider will ask you to look through a phoropter, a device that resembles a set of large binoculars. They will then place a series of different lenses in front of your eyes and ask you which makes your vision clearer. Your prescription is based on your answers.
Presbyopia outlook
Presbyopia can't be prevented. However, glasses, contact lenses, medication, and surgery can all address the symptoms of presbyopia.
How Do You Treat Presbyopia?
Correcting presbyopia requires you to wear glasses or contact lenses, take medication, or undergo laser eye surgery. You should talk with your provider about which treatment is best for you.
Eyeglasses for presbyopia
Many different types of glasses can help with presbyopia, including:
- Bifocal lenses — The lenses of these glasses are split into two zones, or sections. The top allows you to see objects at a distance. The bottom allows you to see objects up close.
- Trifocal lenses — The lenses of these glasses are split into three zones, or sections. The top is for distance vision, the middle is for mid-range vision, and the bottom is for up-close vision.
- Progressive lenses — The lenses of these glasses work like bifocals or trifocals. Instead of separate zones or sections, the change occurs gradually from the top of the lens to the bottom.
- Reading glasses — These glasses only correct close-up vision and are available without a prescription. However, you may want to visit your provider to ensure you have the correct power for your eyes.
Contact lenses for presbyopia
- Monovision contact lenses — These contacts correct one eye for distance vision and one eye for close-up vision. It can take a while for your brain to adjust to this new way of seeing, and you may lose some ability to judge distance.
- Multifocal contact lenses — These contact lenses have rings set at different prescription powers, allowing you to see both far away and up close. Again, it may take some time to adjust. You may not see as clearly as you did with regular monofocal contact lenses.
Medication for presbyopia
Prescription eye drops help to address presbyopia by reducing the size of your pupils and making it easier for your eyes to focus. The drops last several hours at a time, and you need to take them every day.
Surgery for presbyopia
You can address presbyopia with two different types of surgery:
- Laser eye surgery — Using a laser, your provider will reshape the surface of your cornea, adjusting one eye for distance vision and the other eye for close-up vision. Much like monovision contact lenses, it can take some time to adjust, and you may not be able to reliably judge distance.
- Refractive lens exchange — This surgery uses lens implants to give you full vision. The implant works much like a multifocal contact lens.
How effective is treatment?
All the above treatments are effective for treating presbyopia. Which one you choose depends on your lifestyle, your comfort, and your existing eye conditions. You should discuss these with your provider so that you get the treatment that meets your needs.
How long does it take to recover after treatment for presbyopia?
If you use glasses, contact lenses, or medication for your presbyopia, you will notice the difference as soon as you put them on or in your eyes. If you have surgery to address your presbyopia, it will take a day or two to notice a difference.
You will need some time to adjust to your new way of seeing.
Additional Common Questions
What questions should I ask my provider about presbyopia?
If you are over 40, you may want to ask your provider the following questions about presbyopia:
- When will I begin to lose my close-up vision?
- Which treatment for presbyopia is best for me?
- Will my presbyopia lead to other issues with my eyes?
