Recognizing the symptoms of presbyopia

Having trouble focusing on objects around you? If so, you may have presbyopia. Here’s what causes the condition and how you can treat it.

Squinting to focus lately? Having trouble reading the menu at an candlelight meal? If you’re over 40, you may have presbyopia, an eye condition that affects your ability to focus or see things clearly. So if you’ve been holding your books further away to read them or have a bit of a headache after reading, you may have developed this condition. It’s often a natural part of aging.

Again, it’s a part of aging many people can’t get away from. Presbyopia happens when the lenses of the eyes harden, affecting how well you can focus on images. But there are factors that can make the symptoms worse. Drinking alcohol, fatigue or dim lighting should be avoided.

Some people can develop presbyopia before age 40, thanks to existing conditions (diabetes or multiple sclerosis, for example) or medications (such as antidepressants or diuretics) that they might be taking.

If you suspect you have presbyopia, visit your physician or optometrist to confirm. They’ll likely give you a simple eye exam to study your vision. Definitely take it seriously if the condition is causing problems in your everyday life—for example, when reading in your job is becoming difficult.

If you’re nearsighted, reading without your glasses may do the trick. Non-prescription reading glasses, prescription glasses (such as bifocals, or lenses with two different prescriptions inside of them), or contact lenses may help. Reading in proper lighting to avoid squinting or straining your eyes can also help.

Surgery may also be needed down the line. Surgical options may include:

• Refractive surgery, which can alter the shape of your cornea.
• Lens implants, synthetic lenses that replace your eyes’ natural lenses .
• Small-diameter corneal inlays, which put small rings at the outside of your corneas.

Keep your health in check in general, too, to assist your eyes—high blood pressure, for example, can influence how well you see. And keep your eyes protected by wearing ultraviolet radiation sunglasses and avoiding eye injuries.