Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a term that is used to describe an eye in which the natural lens can no longer accommodate. Accommodation is the eye’s way of changing its focusing distance: the lens thickens during accommodation, thereby increasing its focusing power and its ability to see up close. As we age, the lens begins to lose some of its elasticity. This is a gradual process, although to many it appears to occur suddenly (typically around the age of 40).

Most people first notice difficulty reading very fine print such as the phone book, a medicine bottle, or the stock market page. They may also have difficulty adjusting their focus from near to far. At first, holding reading material further away helps many patients, but eventually, correction is needed in the form of reading glasses, bifocals or contact lenses. Near-sighted individuals may simply be able to take their glasses off to read.