Definition & causes
Eyesight changes as people get older. Most people need glasses and lenses in order to see as clearly as they used to do when they were younger. One common eye condition associated with age is the inability to focus on near objects or read small print. The medical term for this condition is Presbyopia. The condition differs from short-sightedness (Myopia), which means that people find it difficult to see distant objects clearly. Presbyopia is sometimes confused with farsightedness (Hyperopia), as both conditions can cause blurred vision when looking at distant objects.

In a recent research study from Australia, it was claimed that the onset of Presbyopia is a consequence of two features; the design of the lens and its function over a life-time, but also by lack of a protein inside of the lens, called alpha crystalline. The protein deficiency naturally develops as people age and everyone will eventually run out of this protein – usually around the age of 40. When this protein disappears, the lens becomes stiffer and cannot bend and curve as it usually does.

From an evolutionary point of view, humans have only recently started to reach the ‘middle age’ and beyond – which is why this lack of protein has been discovered in elderly people. Understanding Presbyopia is of particular interest today as the population is increasingly aging, and this vision condition will therefore become more and more common.

Symptoms and impact
Presbyopia usually develops when people approach their 40’s, and research states that all people will be presbyopic by the age of 50. The most commonly reported symptoms for advanced Presbyopia are that people feel their arms have become “too short” to hold for example a news paper at comfortable distance.

Even though Presbyopia is a common condition in the aging population, it can still have a major impact on quality of life for those who suffer from it. For example, an American study from 2003 showed that Presbyopia was related to negative health-related quality of life. This is understandable, as writing and reading are common everyday activities related to communication and information seeking. Given that the aging population is increasing around the Western world, Presbyopia is becoming a serious public health challenge for the future.

Treatments
Presbyopia can be diagnosed through a thorough description of symptoms and a comprehensive eye examination. There are many clinics offering laser surgery to correct for Presbyopia, and it is possible replace the eye lens with either a clear lens or a multi-focal implant lens.

However, the most common treatment is to use some kind of correction lenses (either glasses or contact lenses). Bifocal lenses include two areas of focus; one part that corrects for near- or farsightedness and another part containing a focus area for viewing close objects. Monovision lenses are most common in the form of contact lenses, and it means that one lens is modified for distance viewing, whereas the other one is modified for close viewing. The brain learns to carry out different tasks with different eyes, and some people appreciate this solution. However, some people report dizziness and nausea as a result of wearing these types of contact lenses.

Progressive lenses (also called varifocal, multifocal, progressive addition lenses (PAL), no-line bifocals) operate in the same way as bifocal lenses (two different areas of focus), but the boundary between the two areas have no visible lines between them. Instead, the lens power gradually increases –from no strength at the top of the lens, to full strength at the bottom of the lens. In order to diagnose Presbyopia and decide on the best treatment options, visit your nearest optometrist for a routine eye exam.

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