With age, most people might notice that it is harder to focus on objects which are situated close to their eyes. This affects each person to a different degree and while it can also be caused by different conditions, it is most often caused by presbyopia. What is the cause of that? We are about to take a look.
What is Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is a condition that affects the lens of the eye, which is why focusing becomes much harder. The major reason for that is the thickening of the lens, which appears with aging. In kids, the lenses are at their thinnest and very flexible, allowing for a much more seamless reaction. As time progresses, lenses grow additional layers and this is why over the years, which makes them much harder to bend and much less flexible. As they become stiffer, the muscles around them have a harder time bending them.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of presbyopia can take a relatively long time to be noticed, as the change is gradual, but they normally are:
- Blurry vision, when you try to observe object at close, normally reading distance
- Increased time, required for your eyes to focus
- Increased need of more light, when performing a task at an arm's length
- Changes in the comfort zone for reading
- Increased discomfort from focusing your vision up close
While the condition is mostly unpleasant, rather than dangerous, it is still better to go and check with your eye specialist. This is, because if left untreated, presbyopia can significantly hinder your daily tasks in the long term, as it will worsen. Also in combination with other conditions it can become a real nuisance for your vision.
What are some risk factors?
The biggest risk factor when it comes to presbyopia is age. The older a person gets, the more likely they are to develop this condition, especially in the 40s and up.
People with other eye conditions, such as myopia and hyperopia, are far more likely to experience the effects of presbyopia. Conditions like diabetes can also be a contributor to that. Drugs and alcohol use can also contribute to an earlier development of this condition, same as smoking.
How do you treat presbyopia?
While there is no cure, there are multiple treatments available for compensating the reduced vision due to Presbyopia. Vision aids are by far the most popular ones. After a visit to your eye specialist you will be prescribed glasses depending on your needs. There are a number of different glasses which can serve you in different situations and compensate for the reduced vision and for those who need something more compact, contact lenses are also an option.
Magnifiers are another great solution, if you want to negate the negatives of this condition. For the most heavily affected, there are a number of eye surgeries, which can, to a degree, improve your eyesight.
Presbyopia is an age-related condition, which is easily regulated, so make sure to do regular check ups in order to catch and treat it on time. In case you have already been diagnosed or you simply need a vision boost for work, reading or daily tasks in general, you should definitely check out our shop for a wide range of high-quality glasses and magnifiers.