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Presbyopia: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

What is Presbyopia ?

Presbyopia is a natural age-related condition in which the eye's ability to focus on near objects is reduced due to the lens becoming stiffer. This happens because the eye's lens becomes less flexible. The condition affects almost everyone to some degree and is not considered a disease but a normal part of the aging process. It usually begins to develop around age 38 or 40 and gets worse by the mid-60s and causes difficulty with reading or other close-up tasks.


Causes of Presbyopia

Presbyopia is an age-related process
these age-related changes occur within the proteins in the lens, which make the lens stiffer and less elastic over time.

The main cause of presbyopia is a gradual loss of stiffness and flexibility in the natural lens inside your eye. As you age, the lens gradually loses its flexibility, and is less able to quickly change its shape for close-up viewing.

These age-related changes occur within the proteins in the lens, which make the lens stiffer and less elastic over time. With less elasticity, it becomes more difficult for the eyes to focus on objects seen up close.


What are the symptoms of presbyopia ?

Presbyopia develops slowly, usually after age 40. This problem gradually affects almost everyone, and you may notice symptoms after age 40.

  • Symptoms of presbyopia usually include blurred near vision, difficulty reading small print,
  • Eye strain and headaches, especially when you work up close,
  • Trouble seeing and focusing on objects when you're in a dimly lit area,
  • Having to hold reading material at arm's length to see it clearly,
  • Needing more light for close-up work,
  • Eye strain or headaches after reading or working up close

How common is Presbyopia 

Presbyopia is very common globally About 1.9 billion people had Presbyopia in 2021. Researchers estimate that number will rise to 2.2 billion by 2027

Risk factors for presbyopia 

Presbyopia the biggest risk factor for presbyopia is age, it is a natural part of the aging process, being farsighted or certain medical conditions can increase the risk of developing presbyopia prematurely or certain medications such as antihistamines and diuretics can accelerate the early stages of presbyopia 


How is Presbyopia diagnosed? 

Presbyopia is usually diagnosed through a comprehensive eye exam performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist an important part of this exam is the refraction evaluation that measures how well you see objects at specific distances this evaluation tells your provider whether you have presbyopia or astigmatism and also whether you are nearsighted or farsighted 




How to prevent presbyopia 

There is no proven technique to prevent presbyopia. There are some things you can do to help improve your eye health and protect your vision to reduce your risk of developing age-related eye diseases:

  • Regular eye exams can help detect early signs of presbyopia and other vision problems, especially when you are 40 or older.
  • Control your medical conditions, such as chronic health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure that contribute to vision loss. These conditions can cause vision problems.
  • Wear sunglasses with UV protection to protect against ultraviolet rays, use protective eyewear when painting, playing sports or using chemical products.
  • A diet rich in antioxidants such as vitamin A Eating foods such as leafy greens, carrots, fish, nuts and citrus fruits can help maintain healthy vision.

Although presbyopia cannot be completely prevented, adopting these strategies can delay its onset and reduce its severity.
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