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-Presbyopia
Presbyopia - A Hardening
of the lens of the eye which causes poor reading vision through
the natural aging process, changes occur in the lens of the eye which
interfere with our ability to see clearly. The first change begins about
the age of forty when the lens loses its elasticity and begins to harden.
When this occurs, the lens can no longer change shape to focus properly.
As a result, close objects cannot be seen clearly and reading begins
to be a problem. This hardening of the lens is called presbyopia.
How
does the lens work?
In normal vision, light enters the eye and is focused by the lens on
the retina. The retina transforms the images into electrical impulses
which are transmitted to the brain by the optic nerve. If the lens does
not focus properly, vision will be distorted.
The
lens continually changes shape to focus objects which are various distances
from the eye. The shape of the lens is controlled by the zonules, thin
muscle fibers which hold the lens in place. The zonules contract and
relax to control the size and shape of the lens. When we look at something
close up, the zonules relax, allowing the lens to become fatter. When
we gaze into the distance, the zonules contract and cause the lens to
become thinner.
How
does presbyopia affect vision?
At
birth the lens is soft and flexible, and its shape is easily controlled
by the zonules. As we age, however, the lens gradually hardens and becomes
resistant to changes in shape. Since the older lens cannot change shape
as easily as it once did, the eye has increasing difficulty focusing.
This loss in focusing ability, or presbyopia, results in blurred or
distorted vision when looking at close objects.
What
causes presbyopia?
Presbyopia
is a natural result of the aging process. Everyone will eventually experience
some degree of presbyopia, beginning about the age of forty. In fact,
presbyopia is one of the most predictable, routine age changes that
occurs in the human body.
What
are the symptoms of presbyopia?
The
most common symptoms of presbyopia are blurred vision of near objects
and difficulty doing close work. Many people find reading difficult
and hold the material farther away in an attempt to see more clearly.
A slowness in changing focus from near vision to distance vision may
be noticed. Eye fatigue and headache after close work are also symptoms
of presbyopia. In addition, farsighted people will usually notice the
symptoms of presbyopia sooner than those who are nearsighted, as nearsighted
persons can simply remove their glasses to see close objects more clearly.
- Blurred
vision of near objects
- Difficulty
reading or doing close work
- Eye
fatigue or headache after doing close work
- Difficulty
changing focus from near to far vision
- How
is presbyopia treated?
Treatment for Presbyopia
Unfortunately,
no treatment such as medication, diet, or exercise will slow the progression
of presbyopia. However, corrective lenses can be used to bring things
back into focus. In many cases, new glasses are required about every
two years to overcome blurred vision caused by an increased hardening
of the lens.
Many
options for corrective lenses are available. Reading glasses can be
worn when doing close work. However, distant objects become blurry when
viewed through reading glasses. Therefore, some people choose bifocals
which offer good distance vision through the top and clear reading vision
through the bottom. People who have good distance vision without glasses
may use half glasses to correct presbyopia. Half glasses are worn for
close work and allow for viewing over the top of the frames when distance
vision is required. Two pairs of glasses or different contact lenses
(one for near vision and one for distance vision) may also be used to
correct presbyopia.
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Ocean County Office - One Route 70 Lakewood, NJ. 08701
Ph: 732-901-6111 Fx: 732-905-0611
Dr. Ed Hedaya is a NJ Cataracts Surgery Specialist. He performs LASIK and PRK
in New Jersey, LASEK
New Jersey and Laser
Eye Surgery New Jersey at his offices in Monmouth
County, Ocean
County and Trinton
Falls. When you think of LASIK
New Jersey, LASIK
South Jersey or LASIK
NJ, think of InVision Eye Care and Dr. Edward Hedaya.
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