Presbyopia

Background

Presbyopia is a common age-related condition that affects the eye’s ability to focus on up close objects. It typically begins to develop in people around their mid-40’s and is caused by a gradual loss of elasticity in the eye’s lens. As a result, tasks like reading can become more difficult without reading glasses or other corrective lenses. Unlike other vision problems that may be caused by changes in the shape of the eye, presbyopia is primarily due to natural aging process. It is not preventable, but it can be managed with various optical aids or drop therapy. Connecticut Eye Consultants is proud to have participated in pivotal clinical trials of all FDA approved medicine and those awaiting review.

Signs and Symptoms

Some symptoms of presbyopia include:

Difficulty focusing on close objects
Need for increased lighting
Holding reading material further away
Eye strain or fatigue
Headaches
Blurriness

Risk Factors

While presbyopia is largely inevitable due to aging, being aware of these symptoms can help you manage your vision changes effectively. Other factors that can influence the onset or severity of presbyopia include:

Family history of presbyopia
Certain medical conditions (diabetes, multiple sclerosis)
Prior eye conditions (cataracts)
Other refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia)

Diagnosis

Presbyopia is typically diagnosed during a comprehensive eye exam conducted by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. The diagnosis process usually includes:

Visual acuity test: you’ll read letters on an eye chart at various distances to assess your vision
Refraction assessment: the doctor uses a phoropter to determine your exact prescription for glasses, which can help identify presbyopia
Near vision testing: specific tests, such as reading a card at a close distance, help evaluate how well you can see objects up close
Slit-lamp examination: this may be done to examine the overall health of your eyes and rule out other conditions

Treatment

Reading glasses
Bifocals
Progressive lenses
Contact lenses
Surgical options

New Frontier: Drop Therapy

New FDA approved medications can allow for temporary improvement of near vision. These medications all work to constrict the pupil. This helps the eye focus up close while preserving distance vision. These drops are reusable and should be used one to two times per day.

Research participants, doctors, and staff at Connecticut Eye Consultants contributed to these exciting breakthroughs in presbyopia treatment.

Doctors at Connecticut Eye Consultants who can diagnose and treat presbyopia:

Margaret Marcone
Crystal Seaforth
Franc Kolami
Frank Restivo

For more information, please visit https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/presbyopia