Eye Conditions: Presbyopia

Wishing your arms were longer?

Find yourself stretching your arms to read the newspaper or trying to read a menu?  You may be suffering from presbyopia. 

What causes presbyopia?

The name presbyopia comes from the Greek word presbus, meaning old man. In young people, the lens is soft and flexible, and readily changes shape to focus. Over time there is a gradual hardening of the material making up the lens; as a result, its ability to focus decreases steadily. 

What are the symptoms of presbyopia?

People with presbyopia often believe they have become farsighted; while they can read street signs and watch movies comfortably, they are unable to bring small print, such as the telephone book, or close work, such as embroidery, into focus. In fact, whereas farsightedness is caused by a misshapen eye, presbyopia is simply the result of the lens becoming less flexible.

How can you corrent presbyopia?

People who have presbyopia can have their vision corrected either by glasses or contact lenses.