Presbyopia | Understanding Age-Related Blurry Vision

As you age, your eyesight starts to change. One of the most common age-related eye conditions is presbyopia. Presbyopia is a condition where the lens in your eye becomes less flexible, making it difficult to focus on close objects. It typically affects people over the age of 40 and can cause eye strain, headaches, and difficulty reading. Whether you choose to order eye drops or schedule refractive surgery, there are ways to treat presbyopia. Here's what you need to know.

What Causes Presbyopia?

As people age, the lens in your eye becomes less flexible and less responsive to changes in distance. The natural lens of your eye bends and flexes to allow you to focus on objects at different distances. However, as the lens becomes less pliable, it cannot respond quickly to changes, leading to difficulty focusing on close objects. The exact cause of presbyopia is not yet fully understood, but it is believed to be related to the loss of elasticity in the lens and changes in the muscle fibers that control the lens.

How Do You Treat Presbyopia?

Several treatment options are available for presbyopia, depending on the severity of the condition and the patient's preferences. The most common treatment options include:

• Glasses - The most common and cost-effective solution for presbyopia is glasses. Patients with no other eye issues can purchase reading glasses to assist with focusing on close objects. Patients who already wear glasses for other vision problems may need to switch to bifocals or progressive lenses. 
• Contact Lenses - Similar to glasses, contact lenses can be used to correct refractive errors and improve the patient's vision. Contact lenses have bifocal and progressive options.
• Medication - Eye drops can be prescribed to help improve near vision in presbyopes. For example, patients can order eye drops, which are approved by the FDA and can help reduce symptoms of presbyopia.
• Refractive Surgery - Refractive surgery is an option for those who do not want to rely on glasses or contact lenses. Procedures such as LASIK or PRK can help to correct refractive errors and improve overall vision.
• Lens Replacement Surgery - In some cases, lens replacement surgery may be recommended. During this procedure, the natural lens in the eye is replaced with an artificial one that can help to correct the patient's vision.

Presbyopia is a natural part of the aging process and affects almost everyone at some point in their life. Fortunately, there are several treatment options available to help improve your vision and quality of life. Whether you order eyedrops, such as Vuity eyedrops, or you start wearing glasses, your eye doctor can help you find the right treatment option to meet your needs. Don't let presbyopia hold you back from the things you love.