Reviewed By Dr. Jodi Kuhn
Reading time: 4 minutes
If you are over 40 and suddenly find yourself holding your phone or a menu farther away to read it, presbyopia may be the reason. This common age-related change gradually makes it harder for your eyes to focus clearly on objects up close.
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Table of Contents
Your Eyes Gradually Lose Some Near-Focusing Ability
When you are younger, the natural lens inside your eye can change shape to help focus on objects at different distances. This process allows you to shift your attention from something across the room to words on a phone or book.
As you get older, the lens becomes less flexible and cannot adjust for close-up focus as easily. These changes happen gradually and commonly become noticeable sometime after age 40. This age-related loss of near-focusing ability is called presbyopia.
Signs of Presbyopia During Everyday Tasks
Presbyopia often becomes noticeable when you read or do other close-up activities. You may initially compensate without realizing why you are doing it.
Common signs include:
- Holding your phone, book, or menu farther away to see clearly
- Needing brighter light when reading
- Blurry vision at a normal reading distance
- Eye strain during close-up work
- Headaches after reading or using a screen
- Difficulty focusing on small print
Symptoms may be more noticeable when you are tired or trying to read in dim lighting.
Presbyopia Usually Changes Gradually
Presbyopia tends to progress over time rather than appearing all at once. You may first notice that very small print is difficult to read and later find that you need more consistent help with close-up tasks.
Your near-vision prescription can therefore change as you get older. Regular eye exams allow us to monitor these changes and update your vision correction when needed.
A sudden change in vision, however, should not automatically be attributed to getting older. Sudden blurriness, double vision, flashes of light, a sudden increase in floaters, or vision loss deserves prompt evaluation.
Presbyopia Can Develop Even With Good Vision
You can develop presbyopia even if you have always had clear vision and never worn glasses. Presbyopia results from age-related changes inside the eye rather than simply being an extension of nearsightedness or farsightedness.
People who already wear prescription glasses or contact lenses can experience it too. Their distance prescription may still work well while close-up tasks gradually become more difficult.
Because other changes in eye health and vision can also occur as you get older, a comprehensive eye exam can help us determine whether presbyopia or another issue is affecting your vision.
Correcting Presbyopia
Presbyopia cannot be prevented simply by exercising your eyes or trying harder to focus, but several vision correction options can make near tasks clearer.
Depending on your vision and daily needs, options may include:
- Reading glasses
- Prescription eyeglasses
- Bifocal or progressive lenses
- Multifocal or monovision contact lenses
Some people only need help with close-up tasks, while others benefit from a prescription that provides clear vision at several distances.
If you already wear glasses or contacts, we can determine whether adjusting your prescription would make reading and other near work more comfortable. Youth Vision offers eyeglasses and contact lenses as part of our vision services.
Clearer Near Vision Starts With an Eye Exam
At Youth Vision, we provide comprehensive eye care for the whole family at our Denver, Aurora, and Thornton locations. If reading, screen use, or other close-up tasks have become more difficult, contact us to schedule an eye exam.
To schedule an eye exam, contact the location most convenient for you:
Phone: (303) 825-2295
Phone: (303) 343-3133
Phone: (303) 450-0184
FAQs
Can LASIK fix presbyopia?
LASIK can correct vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, but it does not prevent presbyopia. If presbyopia develops after LASIK, you may still need reading glasses for close-up tasks.
Does presbyopia get worse with age?
Presbyopia generally progresses gradually as the natural lens continues to lose flexibility. You may need changes to your reading or multifocal prescription over time as your near-focusing ability changes.
Is presbyopia the same as farsightedness?
Presbyopia is an age-related loss of the eye’s ability to focus at close distances, while farsightedness is a refractive error related to how the eye focuses light. Both can make near objects difficult to see clearly, but they have different underlying causes.
Can you have presbyopia and nearsightedness at the same time?
Someone who is nearsighted can also develop presbyopia as they get older. Some nearsighted people may notice that they can read more easily by removing their distance glasses, but presbyopia is still affecting their ability to focus at different distances.
