Presbyopia - A Vision Beyond 40 years of age

As we journey through life, our body undergo various changes. One such change that often catches people off guard is presbyopia. It is not a refractive error like myopia hypermetropia instead it is considered as an anomaly of accommodation (the ability to focus on near object) which occurs simply by aging process.

Accommodation; it refers to the eyes ability to change its optical power to maintain a clear image on an object at its distance from the eye varies. This process involves the ciliary muscles adjusting the curvature of the crystalline lens, enabling the eye to focus on near or far object.

Presbyopic person trying to read book

What is PRESBYOPIA?

Presbyopia is condition of failing of near vision due to age related decrease in amplitude of accommodation or increase in PUNCTUM PROXIMUM (near point of focus). Generally, it occurs from the age 38 to 40 years, but hypermetropes (people with positive power) become presbyopic a few year earlier than either myopes (people with negative power) or emmetropes (people who don’t have any refractive error).

How will you identify if you’re a Presbyope?

1. You’ll be suffering from asthenopia, group of symptoms which include eye strain, headache, nausea, vertigo & visual discomfort specially while doing near tasks.

2. It starts with intermittent blur while doing near work.

3. You’ll be having a problem of blurred vision in near distances like whenever you try to read newspaper or books which have fine prints then you’re not able to focus at them & it seems blurry, but when you increase the distance it become clear.

How Presbyopia effects individual’s daily life style?

·  Digital device usage: Difficulty seeing desktop or laptop screen. Extended screen time may cause increased eye discomfort &blurred vision.

·  Reading difficulties: Reading small prints like book, newspaper or label becomes challenging without corrective lenses.

·  Work place challenges: It may reduce the productivity to the task that involves closeup work like sewing, writing, detailed crafting etc. Professionals like jewelers, electricians and surgeons depend on their appropriate lenses to do the work perfectly.

·  Daily tasks:  Without presbyopic correction it is cumbersome to do everyday activities like threading a needle, reading recipes or even doing makeup or shaving.

·  Social & recreational activities: The presbyopic people find it difficult to maintain hobbies like knitting, painting, pr playing musical instrument.

Eye Checkup

What to do if you suffer from Presbyopia?

All you can do is visit your nearest eyecare professional for a comprehensive eye examination.

What are the options available to deal with Presbyopia?

A.    Optical correction:

Multifocal Soft Contact lenses

Reading glasses

Progrresive lenses

Bifocal lenses

1. Bifocal corrective glasses: you may have seen your parents or grandparents wearing glasses which have half moon like shape at the bottom of glasses for near work.

2. Progressive corrective glasses: It is one of the best options for the correction of presbyopia nowadays, as it has power for all the distances like far intermediate and near in a seamless manner.

3. Reading glasses: it doesn’t have distance correction as it is made only for the purpose of near work only.

4. Multifocal contact lenses: These are one of the best options for correcting presbyopia. This correction is form of progressive additional lenses in contact lens form.

B.    Surgical corrections:

Surgical correction of Presbyopia

1. Monovision conductive keratoplasty

2. Monovision hyperopic or myopic LASIK/ C-LASIK/ epi-LASIK

3. Presbyopic bifocal LASIK or LASIK-PARM

4. Presbyopic Multifocal LASIK