What is presbyopia and what are its symptoms?

24/05/2024

Presbyopia is a refractive defect that is due to the gradual loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens. This natural lens allows the eye to focus on objects at different distances, a process known as accommodation.

Over the years, the lens progressively loses its natural elasticity and becomes more rigid, therefore less flexible. This progressive loss of accommodation capacity generally appears after the age of 40 and evolves over time.

What are its symptoms?

• Difficulty focusing on close objects.
• Needing to move objects further away to see them better.
• Blurry or dancing text, or visual fatigue.
• Headache when looking at close objects prolonged periods.
• Red, dry eyes, stinging, tearing and a gritty sensation when using close vision for extended periods.

The combination of these symptoms leads to visual fatigue.

 Presbyopia cannot be prevented because it is linked to the natural aging process of the eye. It is important to have periodic eye check-ups starting at the age of 40, as this is when symptoms typically begin to appear.