Imagine sitting in your living room reading a book. The lights are on, but not bright enough. Your eyes can’t read the small words, they’re blurry! So you push the book farther away and squint your eyes in an attempt to make it clear. Finally you give up and move to an area with more light. What you are noticing is a common age-related change called presbyopia, in which your eyes gradually begin to lose the ability to focus on close objects.
Why Does Presbyopia Happen?
The lens in our eye is responsible for changing shape to focus on objects up close. As we reach our 40s, the lens of the eye naturally starts to stiffen, making it harder to shift focus from far away to near objects.
Common Symptoms:
If you’ve started experiencing the early stages of presbyopia, you might notice:
- You need to hold reading materials farther away
- Close-up words look blurred
- You get headaches or eye strain when doing near work
- Difficulty seeing in low light
These are common symptoms. Any changes in your normal day-to-day routine should be discussed with your local optometrist. A thorough eye exam will reveal the cause and how it can be treated.
Treatments:
The good news is that presbyopia is easily manageable. Here are some of the most common solutions:
- Reading glasses or glasses with bifocals, trifocals, or progressive lenses.
- Multifocal contact lenses
- Surgical options
- Use brighter lighting, adjust text size on your devices, and take breaks from work to make a big difference in your productivity
Next Steps:
- Book your eye exam to stay updated with your eye health.
- Let your optometrist know exactly what you’ve noticed: what tasks are harder, whether light matters, etc.
- Discover what treatment options will best suit your lifestyle: reading glasses, multi-focal lenses, or contact lenses.
- Plan for follow-ups as your vision might keep changing, so keep your prescriptions updated.
Presbyopia is a normal part of aging. It can make some work more difficult for your eyes, but with the right assistance, you can read, work, and enjoy what you love without having to strain them.
For more information, concerns or inquiries or to book your next eye exam, get in touch with inFocus Vision Care. It all begins with you taking care of your eyes!
