Presbyopia: Symptoms and Possible Treatments

What is Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is a physiological visual impairment that occurs with age. The first symptoms usually appear between the ages of 40 and 45, manifesting as a gradual reduction in near vision. The cause is a decrease in the elasticity of the crystalline lens, a small lens in our eyes that, in the absence of disease, allows us to see clearly both near and far. Besides age, other risk factors can contribute to a decrease in the elasticity of the crystalline lens and therefore an earlier onset of presbyopia in people under 40. When presbyopia symptoms appear earlier than usual, it's called premature presbyopia. These risk factors include prolonged use of certain medications (antidepressants, antihistamines, diuretics, corticosteroids), alcohol abuse, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or other medical conditions.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Presbyopia

How does Presbyopia Manifest?

The main symptom of presbyopia is the progressive inability to focus on nearby objects and the need to move them further away. Sometimes, however, there may be associated complaints such as visual fatigue during prolonged reading, double vision of letters, burning and redness of the eyes, and sometimes even headaches that are worse at the end of the day and at night. In general, it is people who do a lot of close-up visual work who notice this change very early. The classic example is moving a newspaper, book, restaurant menu, or cell phone screen further away while reading, while still being able to read road signs, watch movies, or perform all those activities that do not require the ability to focus at near and intermediate distances. This defect can remain mild for a long time, even years, or worsen very quickly, at least until the age of 65, when accommodative power tends to stabilize.

How is Presbyopia Diagnosed?

If any of the symptoms of presbyopia appear, you should contact your doctor or specialist, who will perform a complete eye exam and establish a diagnosis. A presbyopia test exists. The onset of presbyopia is earlier in hyperopes and astigmats, whereas when it occurs in myopes, the new "visual defect" seems to improve the one already known. A myope (who has poor distance vision) who, over time, becomes presbyopic will, thanks to the nature of their visual defect, partially compensate for the onset of presbyopia. On the other hand, in hyperopes, who have difficulty focusing up close, presbyopia appears even before the age of forty, as the two defects are complementary.

Possible Solutions and Treatments for Presbyopia

Wearing Glasses for Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a defect that can be easily corrected by wearing glasses, but also by surgery. It is essential to intervene as early as possible, as prolonged effort to focus on objects at a short distance without correction can lead to visual fatigue, or even real pathologies. Glasses are the simplest solution, and in the absence of other visual defects (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism), especially if there is no specific need to correct presbyopia. It should be remembered, however, that presbyopic lenses are not definitive. Indeed, accommodation is gradually lost, so that up to the age of 65, when the defect stabilizes, the power of the glasses must be periodically increased.

Contact Lenses and Surgery in the Treatment of Presbyopia

In the presence of other refractive defects, it is necessary to use bifocal lenses, the lower part of which is dedicated to correcting presbyopia, while the upper part corrects the refractive defect. It is also possible to use multifocal lenses, which allow good vision at several distances.

Several surgical options exist to treat presbyopia through laser refractive surgery (PRK or LASIK) or through intraocular surgery. Laser treatment is the same as that used to correct visual defects such as myopia and consists of "removing" small fragments of peripheral epithelial tissue from the cornea, so as to modify its curvature and allow the focusing of close-up images.

Treatment with an intraocular lens consists of replacing the crystalline lens with a multifocal accommodative intraocular lens that acts as an artificial lens, does not become opaque, and lasts a lifetime. This treatment allows for the simultaneous correction of associated disorders such as myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia, and cataracts.

EXPRESS QUOTE

Would you like more information?

How to Prevent Presbyopia?

Although presbyopia cannot be avoided, as it is due to the normal growth of the crystalline lens, which becomes increasingly visible with age, it can be delayed by taking care of your eye health through various behavioral rules:

• Have regular eye exams;
• Protect your eyes from UV damage: wear sunglasses and avoid spending a lot of time outdoors during peak UV hours;
• Use adequate lighting for reading: This will prevent unnecessary fatigue;
• Adopt a healthy lifestyle: regularly engage in moderate exercise, do not smoke, eat fruits and vegetables, and drink enough water to keep your eyes hydrated. If necessary, supplement your diet with vitamin A and beta-carotene. Foods that are good for eyesight include blueberries, all orange-colored vegetables and fruits, dried fruits, fatty fish, and salmon. It is also essential to drink plenty of water;
• Control chronic diseases that can affect vision: high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart and blood vessel diseases (circulatory disorders);

[dt_sc_button title="Free Quote" size="medium" style="bordered" icon_type="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2F127.0.0.1/tds%2Fdevis%2F" textcolor="#ffffff" bgcolor="#0c73ba"]