Presbyopia (senile hyperopia)
Symptoms
- Small print is difficult to read
- To see things clearly, keep your distance from yourself
Diagnostics
Determined by routine eye examination
Treatment
- Reading glasses
- Progressive glasses
- Multifocal contact lenses
What is presbyopia?
Presbyopia occurs when the eyes lose the ability to see anything close up with clarity. Presbyopia can be corrected by using lenses that compensate for this lack of vision. Progressive lenses are the most effective means of correcting presbyopia.
Natural loss of lens elasticity around the age of 40, impairing the ability to focus properly on close objects.
As a side-effect of the ageing process, we will all develop presbyopia sooner or later in life. It is a gradual process, but you will notice changes in your myopia from about the age of 40.
What are the symptoms of presbyopia?
- You find it difficult to read small print;
- To see clearly, you need to keep objects away from you, at arm’s length;
- At normal reading distances, vision is blurred.
It’s quite easy to recognise the symptoms of presbyopia. You may notice that you find it difficult to perform close-up tasks such as reading or sewing. The further you pull an object away from you, the clearer you can see it. That’s why many people keep objects at arm’s length – to see them more clearly.
What causes presbyopia?
A flexible crystalline lens at the front of the eye allows clear vision both near and far. But as we get older, from about the age of 40, this lens naturally starts to lose its elasticity, affecting our ability to focus our gaze.
Even if you’ve never needed glasses, you’ll find that you may need reading glasses later on.
How is presbyopia diagnosed?
Presbyopia is diagnosed during a routine eye examination, which includes an assessment of general eye health and refraction. Remember, there’s nothing to worry about, as presbyopia is easily corrected to suit your lifestyle. Most people with presbyopia wear reading glasses or multifocal contact lenses.
What help is available?
It may be that all you need is a pair of prescription reading glasses to make it easier to read at close range. Or, if you already have glasses, you may benefit from progressive lenses, which combine near, intermediate and distance lenses into one pair of glasses.
If contact lenses are more suitable for you, we have a wide range of multifocal contact lenses, designed to adapt one lens to different types of vision, similar to progressive glasses.
Take care of your eyes!
Visit your nearest Optikos pasaulio showroom or register for an ophthalmologist consultation at Familia Clinica in Vilnius (Nemenčinės pl. 4D) and get a 15% discount with your Optikos pasaulio loyalty card.
Frequently asked questions
Is presbyopia corrected only with glasses?
Presbyopia can be corrected with spectacles or multifocal contact lenses, but due to their individual parameters, these contact lenses can only be fitted by an eye care professional and are ordered on an individual prescription basis.
How to recognise the symptoms of presbyopia?
It’s quite easy to recognise the symptoms of presbyopia. You may notice that you find it difficult to perform close-up tasks such as reading or sewing. The further you pull an object away from you, the clearer you can see it.
What is presbyopia ?
Presbyopia is part of the natural ageing process, when the eyes lose their ability to see everything in close proximity clearly.
