Presbyopia

Presbyopia is the natural aging condition of the eye that begins to affect people over the age of 40. At about this age people may begin to experience blurred vision when performing everyday "close-up" tasks such as reading, sewing or working at the computer. It is the most common ocular condition worldwide, affecting some 100 million people in the United States. When a person with presbyopia attempts to focus on a nearby object such as newsprint, the natural crystalline lens in the eye changes shape. The lens goes from a somewhat flattened state to a more spherical shape. The process by which the lens of the eye becomes more spherical, allowing nearby objects to come into view, is called accommodation.

Essentially, the lens in the eye becomes less flexible, and the muscles controlling the lens weaken. This is why some people need reading glasses or need to hold objects farther away to see them.