With normal vision, we can focus on objects very close to our face, as well as those very far away. And, we have the luxury of changing our focus easily from near to far. However, as we age, this becomes increasingly difficult. And, by the time we reach our forties, we may need glasses or even bifocals to read or to focus on objects close-up. This condition is called presbyopia. In it’s early stages, presbyopia may go unnoticed. It is only when the loss of elasticity impairs vision to a noticeable degree that the change is recognized. Presbyopia usually becomes noticeable in the early to mid-forties.

Symptoms of Presbyopia

• Blurry vision that starts after age 40
• Difficulty adjusting your focus when switching from near to distance vision
• Eyes that tire easily
• Headaches when doing close-up work

Are You at Risk?
Presbyopia is caused by age. As we get older, the lenses in the eyes lose some of their elasticity, and without elasticity they lose some of their ability to change focus for different distances. Presbyopia may seem to occur suddenly, but the actual loss of flexibility takes place over a number of years. Long before an individual is aware that seeing close up is becoming more difficult, the lenses in the eyes have begun losing their ability to flatten and thicken.

Diagnosing Presbyopia
All comprehensive examinations at the Kleiman Evangelista Eye Center will include testing for presbyopia. Our doctors can conduct a refractive evaluation to determine whether your eyes focus light rays exactly on the retina at distance and near. A visual acuity test will determine your ability to see sharply and clearly at all distances. We will also check your eye coordination and muscle control, as well as your eyes' ability to change focus. All of these are important factors in how your eyes see.

Treating Presbyopia
Reading glasses and contact lenses are used by many patients for the temporary treatment of presbyopia. However, there are a number of vision correction procedures that can surgically reduce or eliminate the effects of presbyopia. Some presbyopic patients like monovision, which allows them to see distance clearly in one eye and close-up clearly with the other eye. Presbyopia can be present in combination with other types of refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.