Presbyopia
Presbyopia is one of the most common vision changes we see among patients visiting our optometry clinic in Victoria. Presbyopia is the eye’s gradual loss of close-up vision. Another consequence of growing old, presbyopia is a completely natural condition that happens to most people. Over time, the eye loses its elasticity and with it, its ability to focus. As part of the natural aging process rather than a disease or disorder, millions of Canadians live with presbyopia every day.
Causes of Presbyopia
Presbyopia tends to develop in adults once they pass age 40 – sometimes sooner, sometimes later. By the time you reach your mid-60s, the Presbyopia will usually have progressed. Presbyopia is natural, and there isn’t much you can do to prevent or slow it.
Presbyopia begins as the eye loses flexibility, which creates challenges when focusing light. It all has to do with the lens, which is responsible for bringing objects into focus. The lens grows as we age, adding new cells to replace the old. As such, the lens thickens over time, making it less elastic. A less flexible lens has a tougher time changing shape in order to adapt to close-up objects, producing somewhat blurry vision up close.
Risk Factors
The biggest risk factor for developing presbyopia is age. Once you hit 40, you’re almost guaranteed to develop some level of presbyopia as you continue to get older. But age isn’t the only factor that can influence when or how severely presbyopia develops.
Other conditions can influence your chances of developing presbyopia. People with premature presbyopia (before age 40) usually have an underlying condition like Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness. Certain diseases could also have an impact, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease or multiple sclerosis.
Another risk factor for presbyopia could be the medications you’re taking. Some antihistamines, antidepressants or diuretics could speed up your path to Presbyopia.
Common Symptoms of Presbyopia
The symptoms of presbyopia are fairly straightforward, common, and easy to identify. The main issue you’ll notice is blurry vision at short distances. During activities like reading up close, you may catch yourself holding the material further away in order to get a clearer picture. This is a tell-tale sign of Presbyopia.
If you spend lots of time reading things up close either at work or in your leisure, you may also notice minor eyestrain or headaches after performing these close-up tasks. In that case, presbyopia may be progressing.
When to see an Optometrist for Presbyopia
The good news is millions of Canadians are living with presbyopia every day. It’s painless, plus there are several non-invasive treatments you can access. One of the most common treatment options is a pair of reading glasses, or “readers”, which will aid in close-up activities like reading or using your phone or computer.
There are a number of prescriptions that may be suitable as well:
- Bifocals. Bifocal lenses have two different prescriptions in them. The upper section is used for seeing objects at a distance, while the lower section aids in close-up activities.
- Trifocals. Trifocals have three prescriptions, with an added layer in the middle for those in-between distances.
- Progressive lenses. Progressive lenses are multifocal, meaning the prescription gradually shifts depending on your activity (without the visible line on the eyewear).
If wearing glasses will impact your lifestyle too much, or maybe they just aren’t your style, you may be a candidate for contact lenses. Just like prescription eyewear, contact lenses can be designed as bifocal lenses or multifocal lenses, plus you have the option of monovision, where one eye sees at a distance and the other up close.
If your presbyopia is advanced or you’ve grown tired of eyewear and contact lenses, there’s always the option of surgery. Surgery can correct presbyopia using monovision, enabling each eye to specialize in either close or far vision. LASIK is a popular option, along with several others surgical treatments.
If you notice your vision going blurry, your best bet is to consult with your optometrist, who can assess your vision and lay out your options.
Preventing Presbyopia
As another inconsiderate side-effect of aging, there isn’t much you can do to stop something like Presbyopia. But practicing good eye health is always worthwhile, and could help ease other conditions and issues down the road.
One of the best things you can do for your eyes is protect them when you’re in the sun. The harmful impact of UV rays on eyes has been well-studied. As best you can, always make sure you’re wearing UV-blocking sunglasses when you step out in the sun. Need a new pair? Visit Inner Harbour Optometry and browse our selection.
Your lifestyle can also have an impact on your eye health. Everything from screen habits to diet plays a part. Check out these 9 healthy habits for your eyes.
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