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Presbyopia
What is presbyopia?
Presbyopia, popularly known as “tired eyesight”, is an eyesight problem that appears as a result of the ageing of the crystalline lens, or the eye’s natural lens.
Unlike other refractive defects (myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism), which often appear in childhood or adolescence, presbyopia is especially common from the age of 40-45. Sooner or later, the difficulty it causes to focus on nearby objects ends up affecting us all, and as it progresses it might also make distant vision worse, if it is also associated to mild hyperopia that was latent and produced no symptoms.
The characteristic symptom of presbyopia is poor near vision. The most common example is the need to unconsciously move away from your mobile phone, a book, the restaurant bill, a shopping receipt, etc. to be able to focus better on the text and prevent the letters and numbers from “dancing around” or merging together.
If this refractive defect is not properly corrected and you do not have the right prescription, you might also notice tears and itchy eyes, frequent headaches when you concentrate, or the need to squint to see better and having to use more light when reading.
Presbyopia cannot be avoided, as it is the result the natural degenerative process that affects the ocular structures – more particularly the crystalline lens – just like cataracts. As you age, the eye’s lens loses its elasticity and with it, its accommodation capacity that enables it to modify its shape and power to change focus and see clearly at different distances.
If you compare the eye with a camera, the crystalline would be the zoom that, when it is faulty, does not focus properly and does not provide a good visual quality of nearby objects.
In people with hyperopia, who already have blurred near vision, presbyopia often appears earlier, first affecting near vision and then distance vision. However, if you are myopic (blurred distance vision), it might take longer to notice the effects of presbyopia that, even though it is present, is compensated for if you remove your reading glasses.
If you have presbyopia, you normally start correcting it by wearing glasses or contact lenses. We recommend you do not avoid or delay wearing them, as they will provide greater comfort and the necessary visual quality for your everyday and working activities.
You can also consider the alternative of surgery, which is being chosen by more and more people wishing to maintain an active lifestyle while depending as little as possible on glasses. The team of specialists in refractive surgery at Miranza will advise you on the ideal time for surgery and the most appropriate technique for you, depending on your age, hobbies, job and visual conditions (other prior refractive defects, degree of presbyopia, presence of immature cataracts, etc.).
