“Though presbyopia is a normal change in our eyes as we age, it often is a significant and emotional event because it’s a sign of aging that’s impossible to ignore and difficult to hide.”

— Gretchyn Bailey, NCLC, FAAO, Eye Health Contributor

Do not worry, presbyopia is a normal process of our eyes ageing. It is an age-related condition that results in the progressive loss of our eyes’ ability to focus clearly on nearby objects. It eventually affects everyone – people who do not have pre-existing eye conditions and even those who are already farsighted or nearsighted. According to researchers, an estimated nearly two billion people in the world have presbyopia.

What causes Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is caused by the natural aging of the lens in our eyes. As we age, the lens in our eyes hardens and becomes less flexible, and gradually loses its ability to change shape to focus on close objects.

What are the symptoms of presbyopia?

  • Blurry vision at reading distance that used to be comfortable.
  • Holding objects or reading materials further away from your eyes to see more clearly
  • Brighter light needed to see clearly
  • Headaches and eye strain when focusing up-close

If you have experienced any of the above symptoms, please do an eye exam to seek professional advice and get a better understanding of your eyes’ condition. If you are above the age of 40 but have not experienced any of the symptoms, it is still recommended that you do eye exams regularly to ensure good vision in the long run.

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