MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Presbyopia

Skip navigation


Medical Encyclopedia
Other encyclopedia topics:	A-Ag Ah-Ap Aq-Az B-Bk Bl-Bz C-Cg Ch-Co Cp-Cz D-Di Dj-Dz E-Ep Eq-Ez F G H-Hf Hg-Hz I-In Io-Iz J K L-Ln Lo-Lz M-Mf Mg-Mz N O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q R S-Sh Si-Sp Sq-Sz T-Tn To-Tz U V W X Y Z 0-9

Presbyopia

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Definition Causes, incidence, and risk factors Symptoms Signs and tests	Treatment Expectations (prognosis) Complications Calling your health care provider Prevention

Illustrations

Farsighted

Definition Return to top

Presbyopia is an age-associated progressive loss of the focusing power of the lens. This results in difficulty seeing objects close-up.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

The focusing power of the eye, which depends upon the inherent elasticity of the lens, is gradually lost as people age. This results in a slow decrease in the ability of the eye to focus on objects nearby.

People usually notice the condition around age 45, when they realize that they need to hold reading materials further away in order to focus on them. Presbyopia is a natural part of the aging process and affects everyone.

Symptoms Return to top

Decreased focusing ability for near objects
Eyestrain
Headache

Signs and tests Return to top

A general eye examination will be performed, including measurements to determine a prescription for glasses or contact lenses.

Tests may include:

Visual acuity
Refraction test
Muscle integrity
Slit-lamp
Retinal examination

Treatment Return to top

Presbyopia can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. In some cases, the addition of bifocals to an existing lens prescription is sufficient. As the ability to focus up close worsens, the prescription needs to be changed accordingly.

Around the age of 65, the eyes have usually lost most of the elasticity needed to focus up close. However, it will still be possible to read with the help of the appropriate prescription. Even so, you may find it necessary to hold reading materials further away, and you may require larger print and more light to read by.

People who do not need glasses for distance vision may only need half glasses or reading glasses.

With the use of contact lenses, some people choose to correct one eye for near and one eye for far. This is called "monovision" and eliminates the need for bifocals or reading glasses, but can interfere with depth perception. There are also newer contract lenses that can correct for both near and far vision with the same lens.

New surgical procedures can also provide solutions for those who do not want to wear glasses or contacts.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

Vision can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

Complications Return to top

If uncorrected, progressive vision difficulty can cause problems with driving, lifestyle, or work.

Calling your health care provider Return to top

Call your health care provider or ophthalmologist if eye strain or decreased ability to focus on close objects occurs.

Prevention Return to top

There is no proven prevention for presbyopia.

Update Date: 4/22/2004

Updated by: Dominique Brooks, M.D., M.B.A., Ophthalmologist. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.