Presbyopia

When we are young, the lens inside of our eye is extremely flexible, and allows us to easily focus on close objects. Over time, the lens gradually loses its flexibility, which makes it difficult to focus on close objects. This condition is called Presbyopia, and it is a normal part of the aging process that happens to everyone, even those who have never had a vision problem before. In the early stages of Presbyopia, most people have difficulty reading small print, such as on a menu, a cell phone, or a newspaper. People usually compensate for this, by holding reading materials further away, and in some cases by using additional light. As the condition progresses, most patients are unable to hold printed materials far enough away to see them clearly. Patients will often complain that their arms are not long enough anymore. At this stage, most patients will require some type of near vision correction. Because the lenses inside our eyes continue to change over time, it is important to see your eye care professional regularly, for routine eye examinations.