Presbyopia

Presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness, is a condition that causes the eyes to see objects up close less clearly than before. Symptoms usually appear after the age of 40. The main cause of presbyopia is the natural deterioration of the eyes as we age. 

Hyperopia can affect daily life by making it difficult to see letters clearly and blurry vision. People who have to use their eyes for work may also be affected. Therefore, you should see an ophthalmologist for proper diagnosis and treatment .

Symptoms of Presbyopia

Signs that may be symptoms of presbyopia include:

• The clarity of reading books changes. The letters may not be clear or may be blurry, making it difficult to see. You may need to strain your eyes or hold the book or phone further away to see the letters more clearly.
• Have symptoms of eye strain, eye pain or headache after reading a book or doing activities that require using your eyes.

Symptoms of presbyopia usually appear sometime after age 40. They can affect one or both eyes. Symptoms vary from person to person and may depend on the type of eyeglasses worn before the symptoms appear. If you experience any of the above symptoms, you should see an eye doctor to find out how to correct them. This will help prevent and reduce the effects of presbyopia.

Causes of Presbyopia

Normally, the human eye lens is flexible and soft, and can effectively receive images from external reflections, resulting in clear images at both near and far distances. However, as we age, cells and organs responsible for vision naturally deteriorate, causing the lens’ flexibility to decrease. As a result, it cannot receive reflected light or images normally, resulting in blurry and unclear images.

Although the main cause of presbyopia is aging, there are some factors that may increase the risk or accelerate the onset of this condition before the age of 40, such as the use of medications such as antihistamines, antidepressants, diuretics, or underlying medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. In addition, injuries, certain lifestyles, and jobs that require vision may increase the risk of this condition.

Diagnosis of Presbyopia

The ophthalmologist will ask about your initial symptoms, medications you take, and any underlying diseases. Then, he or she will perform an eye examination using various methods. One method may be used or combined, such as:

• Visual Acuity Test: The doctor will use a device that looks like a board with numbers and letters so that the patient can state the numbers and letters they see. This method measures the distance of vision, whether it is near or far.
• A reflection test will help determine whether your vision is nearsighted, farsighted, or astigmatic.
• Slit-lamp examination to examine the lens or other components inside the eye in detail.
• Dilated Fundus Examination: An ophthalmologist administers special eye drops to the patient to dilate the pupil, allowing the ophthalmologist to examine the inside of the eye more clearly.
• Other eye tests such as the Pupil Test and eye movement test

Presbyopia Treatment

There are several ways to treat presbyopia, as follows:

glasses

If a patient only has presbyopia, an ophthalmologist may recommend different types of glasses and lenses to help improve vision.

• Reading glasses are worn only when you want to read a book. They are suitable for people who do not have severe farsightedness.
• Bifocals Lens are glasses with two levels of lenses. There are two powers in one lens for near and far vision. There are horizontal lines separating the lenses for convenience of the user.
• Trifocals Lens: In one lens, there are 3 types of lenses for 3 distances: general vision, intermediate vision, and near vision. There is also a horizontal dividing line.
• Progressive Multifocals: The lenses of this type of glasses are similar to bifocal and trifocal glasses, allowing for multiple distances and no dividing lines.

contact lens

Contact lenses are another option for those who do not want to wear glasses. They are clear gels that are worn on the eyes to adjust vision. Your ophthalmologist may recommend the following contact lenses:

• Bifocal contact lenses contain two types of lenses, one for near vision and one for distance vision.
• Monovision contact lenses: Each eye wears different lenses, one for distance vision and the other for near vision.

In addition, both types of lenses can be used together, with one side worn as a bifocal and the other as a monovision.

Surgery

Ophthalmologists will recommend the surgical method that is most suitable for the patient. Each surgical method has its own advantages, disadvantages, risks, and costs. The surgical methods used to treat hyperopia that ophthalmologists use include:

• Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a procedurethat uses a laser to break up some of the inner corneal tissue to help reshape the cornea for better vision.
• Laser-Assisted Subepithelial Keratectomy (LASEK) is a laser surgery similar to LASIK in that it removes some of the corneal epithelium to reshape the outer layer of the eye .
• Conductive Keratoplasty is a surgical procedure that uses radiofrequency to create heat to reshape the edges of the cornea , making it more curved and improving focus.
• Eye surgery, such as corneal inlay and lens implant surgery, to replace the deteriorated lens, which improves vision.

Complications of Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a condition that should not be left untreated because it can cause vision to worsen. The blurred vision may be severe. The other eye may develop hyperopia or nearsightedness , which may affect daily life.

How to Prevent Presbyopia

Presbyopia cannot be prevented because it is a degeneration that occurs with age. Taking care of your eye health is important, especially regular eye examinations. The frequency of examinations varies according to age. If you are 40 years old or older and do not have a chronic disease, you should have your eyes examined every 2-4 years.

In addition, reducing some risk factors for Presbyopia can be done by eating healthy foods, especially foods high in antioxidants, wearing sunglasses when your eyes are exposed to bright sunlight, taking care of your eyes and using them carefully, reading in areas with sufficient light, using smartphones or computers with appropriate spacing, and maintaining overall good health to prevent diseases that may increase the risk of presbyopia, etc.

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