Presbyopia - Presbyopia

Prophylaxis or rehabilitation of presbyopia is not possible, because the lost elasticity of the lens cannot be recovered. The symptoms of presbyopia are classically corrected with reading glasses. Alternatively, surgical intervention with refractive lens exchange can be considered.

Presbyopia? When reading without reading glasses (correction) becomes difficult to impossible

Presbyopia refers to the loss of the ability to see sharply up close. The natural lens nucleus steadily loses elasticity over the years. The elasticity of the lens is a prerequisite for the so-called accommodation ability. This means the ability to focus on things at different distances. This accommodation ability slowly decreases already in adolescence. The maximum near point at which objects can still be recognized sharply moves further and further into the distance.

Examples of presbyopia - presbyopia

Presbyopia Without impairment

Presbyopia becomes noticeable in people with normal vision from about 45 years of age, when reading without correction becomes difficult or impossible. Farsighted people already have to accommodate in order to be able to see sharply in the distance. They therefore already deform their lens in order to correct the refractive error of the eye. People who are farsighted therefore notice additional presbyopia earlier.

Symptoms sometimes appear before 40. Nearsighted people see near but not far. Their refractive error of the eye is corrected with distance glasses. They notice presbyopia by not being able to see near sharply with their distance glasses on. So they take off their glasses to read.

Treatment options for myopia

Symptoms

The normal reading distance is about 40 centimeters on average. Typically, it is no longer possible to focus at this usual reading distance. Therefore, the presbyopic person holds objects further and further away from the eye. In addition, it is noticeable that more light is needed to be able to read well. The presbyopic person often reports fluctuations depending on the day. Often, focusing is not successful in the morning, but is fine in the afternoon. Presbyopia is a gradual process. Often one only notices that reading glasses are necessary when the eyes tire quickly while reading or even when headaches occur or when the arms become too short.

For people with normal vision ...

... presbyopia makes it increasingly difficult to see things sharply at a distance of less than 30 to 40 centimeters from around the age of 45.

Therapy with reading glasses

The symptoms of presbyopia are classically corrected with reading glasses. Reading glasses are the simplest form of glasses and are corrected only for near vision. The strength of the correction depends on age and the individually comfortable reading distance to the eye. This contrasts with varifocals, in which the lenses are cut so that distance and near vision are corrected smoothly from top to bottom. In the beginning, it takes some getting used to, since the whole head has to be turned when looking sideways.

Far-sighted people ...

... already accommodate - in contrast to normally sighted people - when looking into the distance in order to correct the refractive error of their eyes themselves. This is why the first presbyopia symptoms appear earlier in cases of existing farsightedness: Difficulties with near vision begin here around the mid-30s.

Nearsighted people ...

.. . with the onset of presbyopia usually need reading glasses later (about after the age of 50).

Therapy with contact lenses

The symptoms of presbyopia are classically corrected with reading glasses. Reading glasses are the simplest form of glasses and are corrected only for near vision. The strength of the correction depends on age and the individually comfortable reading distance to the eye. This contrasts with varifocals, in which the lenses are cut so that distance and near vision are corrected smoothly from top to bottom. In the beginning, it takes some getting used to, since the whole head has to be turned when looking sideways.

Therapy by surgical lens exchange

Alternatively, a surgical procedure with refractive lens exchange can be considered. In this case, the body's own lens is replaced by an artificial lens, as in cataract surgery. A classic laser treatment of the cornea, as is known for nearsighted or farsighted people up to 40, is not suitable for presbyopia.

Prophylaxis for presbyopia

Prophylaxis or rehabilitation is not possible because the lost elasticity of the lens cannot be regained.

It is a normal aging process that cannot be stopped and sooner or later affects everyone. How quickly near vision declines varies from individual to individual.

At about 65, presbyopia is fully developed and does not get any stronger.

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