Presbyopia is the age-related loss of the eye’s ability to focus on near objects, usually noticed from the mid-forties onwards. It results from gradual stiffening of the natural lens.
Effects and management
People with presbyopia often hold reading material further away, need more light and may experience eyestrain with close work. Options include reading glasses, bifocals, varifocals, multifocal contact lenses and, for suitable patients, lens-based or laser procedures aimed at reducing near dependence.
- Presbyopia affects everyone, even those who previously had perfect distance vision
- Different tasks may require different strengths of near correction
- Monovision and multifocal approaches each have advantages and compromises
- Regular review ensures the correction keeps pace with age-related changes
