Presbyopia is not a Disease
Presbyopia is not a disease and it cannot be prevented. As we age, our body tissue normally lose their elasticity and this includes the eyes’ lens. As the lenses in our eyes lose some of their elasticity, they also lose their ability to change focus for different distances – resulting in presbyopia.

Presbyopia sometimes shows up with headaches and eye fatigue. It is different from astigmatism, nearsightedness, which are related to the shape of the eyeball and caused by genetic factors, disease or trauma.

When you develop presbyopia, it would seem that it has occurred quite suddenly. But the actual loss of flexibility takes place over a number of years, way before it happens. Long before you become aware that seeing close up is becoming more difficult, the lenses in your eyes have already begun losing their ability to flatten and thicken. Only when the loss of elasticity impairs your vision to a noticeable degree do you usually recognise the change.

Symptoms
Do you -

• Experience a decreasing ability to focus on near objects?
• Feel a "pulling" sensation and suffer from eyestrain when reading?
• Suffer from eye fatigue along with headaches when doing close-up work like reading, sewing, embroidery or computer work?
• Need to hold books, magazines, newspapers, and other reading materials at arm’s length to focus properly?
• Feel you are losing the ability to read fine print?
• Feel your arms are "growing shorter" as words become difficult to see up close, and you must hold small items at arm’s length in order to view them clearly?

If you answered "yes" to at least four of questions here, you might be suffering from presbyopia.

Coping with presbyopia
To compensate for presbyopia, an optometrist can prescribe reading glasses, bifocals, trifocals, or contact lenses. Reading glasses are usually a popular option. With all sorts of styles and colors, 40-somethings can have a pair for every room in the house and they work great as an adjunct of contact lenses.

If you other common vision conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, your optometrist will determine the specific lenses to allow you to see clearly and comfortably. In some cases, the addition of bifocals to an existing lens prescription is sufficient.

Around the age of 65, the eyes would have lost most of the elasticity needed to focus up close. However, it will still be possible to read with the help of appropriate prescription. Even so, you may find it necessary to hold reading materials further away, and you may require larger print and more light to read. As the ability to accommodate worsens, the prescription needs to be changed accordingly.

Many people are interested in surgery for presbyopia, but most of these surgeries are still investigational stages. If you think you might be presbyopic, consult an ophthalmologist right away, as prompt treatment will be necessary to remain clear and comfortable vision.