Presbyopia

What is Presbyopia?

After the age of 40, it becomes more difficult to focus on closely spaced objects. Normally, the human eye sees well at different distances. We look at objects far away or near, the curvature of the lens changes, and the image is projected onto the retina. This ability of the eye is called accommodation.

When presbyopia occurs?

The decrease in the accommodating abilities of the eye begins as early as adolescence. By the age of 38–43, it reaches the point where there are difficulties with visual work at close range. If patient already had farsightedness, then due to the additional load on accommodation, presbyopia develops somewhat earlier, at the age of 30–35 years, if myopia – later.

Patient’s professional activity can also accelerate the development of presbyopia if it is associated with increased visual stress in the vicinity (jewelers, microsurgeons, laboratory assistants). Physiologically, the lens of the human eye is not adapted for constant vision at close range.

The risk group also includes people working at a computer, as well as those who have to read large volumes of texts.

The main symptoms of presbyopia are:

• Decreased near vision – focusing deteriorates at a distance of 50 cm.
• Rapid eye fatigue while reading, working at the computer and with small objects.
• Headaches after intense visual stress, mainly behind the eye sockets and in the forehead. After short rest, they go away on their own, do not require medication.

Presbyopia treatment methods

There are several options for helping a patient with presbyopia: optical, microsurgical and laser methods. Wearing glasses, replacing the lens, or getting laser correction – there are several options for helping patient with presbyopia. Surgical treatment involves replacing the lens that has lost its elasticity with a special artificial lens. The method is especially indicated in the presence of concomitant pathologies of the lens. Laser correctio is suitable for those who, for some reason, cannot wear glasses and are not ready for radical surgery. The method of laser treatment of presbyopia is developing rapidly and currently there are several methods in the practice of ophthalmologist surgeons.