Presbyopia is the normal loss of near focusing ability that occurs with age, usually sometime after the age of 40.  Symptoms include difficulty reading small print clearly and holding smartphones or reading material further away to read clearly. 

Unfortunately presbyopia is unavoidable, it happens to everyone at some stage in their lives. Even if you can read well enough, presbyopia can cause headaches, eye strain and visual fatigue that makes near vision tasks more uncomfortable to do - particularly for long periods.  

What causes presbyopia? 

With age, the natural lens inside the eye starts to thicken and lose its elasticity. The lens changes shape to allow us to focus at different distances, with presbyopia this ability diminishes gradually over time. Age-related changes also take place in the muscle fibers surrounding the lens. With less elasticity, it gets difficult for the eyes to focus on close objects.

Presbyopia can be corrected with reading glasses or varifocals. With new technology presbyopia can also now be corrected with multifocal contact lenses

Book your eye test now at Chakshu London opticians if you feel like you are experiencing symptoms of presbyopia. We can advise you on the best course of action.