4 Signs You May Be Developing Presbyopia

One of the most common jokes about middle age is when a 40-something person struggles to read a menu or phone screen and holds it ever farther away.

This is because, as we age, our ability to see clearly up close becomes compromised, thanks to the reduced flexibility of our lenses.

This condition is called presbyopia, and if you’re experiencing this too, you’re far from alone — by 2030, about 2.1 billion people around the globe are expected to be living with it.

If you struggle to see up close, there are several solutions, and Dr. Vicki Lin at iSight Vision Care is ready to help. Here’s what she wants you to know about this condition.

Understanding presbyopia

Four definite indications you’re dealing with presbyopia are:

1. Blurred vision when you’re trying to read

You know the drill. You go to read that juicy novel, scan the menu at your favorite eatery, do a crossword puzzle, or text a friend, and everything starts to look super blurry. How did that happen?

2. Needing an increased amount of light in order to read

You may no longer be OK with the amount of light you used to use when digging into a new book. Instead, you might need brighter wattage.

3. Headaches when you need to do close work

If you start reading, sewing, or doing some other up close task and you head begins to throb, you may be dealing with presbyopia.

4. Symptoms that indicate eye strain

Your eyes may feel fatigued or even sore.

What happens to make presbyopia develop? When we’re younger, our eye lenses are flexible and softer, which makes it easy for us to transition from looking at something farther away to something near us. You can see clearly and well because light reaches your retina easily.

As we get older, our lenses become less flexible, so they start having problems focusing light properly. This typically starts for people in their 40s and stabilizes when we reach our mid-60s.

You’re at higher risk for presbyopia if you’re farsighted, take certain medications, and live with a health condition like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or multiple sclerosis.

A primer on your eyes

Understanding a bit about the anatomy of the eye helps us comprehend how the lens, cornea, and retina work together to help you see, as well as more about how presbyopia starts and progresses.

The cornea has been likened to your eye’s “windshield.” It’s the clear, protective covering of your eye that plays a pivotal role in enabling you to see. It has six layers, each of which has a distinct job to do.

One of the things the cornea does is bend light when it enters your eye. A minute, circular muscle around your lens contracts (if you’re looking at something close to you) or relaxes (if you’re looking at something far away), causing your lens to change its shape and bring what you’re seeing into focus.

Next, your retina (a tissue layer at the back of your eye) translates light into electrical signals that are then sent to your brain by your optic nerve, allowing you to see what you’re looking at.

Interestingly, your lens continues to grow as you get older and its cell layers multiply, not unlike an onion. This makes your lens thicken and become less flexible, setting you up for presbyopia. Light doesn’t land on your retina as well, and that book, menu, or phone now looks blurry.

Successful treatments for presbyopia

Dr. Lin offers a range of advanced treatments for presbyopia. Her recommendation for you will depend on multiple factors, including your preferences, lifestyle, and overall health: