Presbyopia: Symptoms and Treatment

  Last Updated on December 20, 2024 by Aaron Barriga

What Is Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is a common eye condition that many people experience after the age of 40. It is a refractive eye condition, which is normal for an individual to have.

When an object is located far away from an observer, light rays from an object pass through the cornea. The pupil and the lens focus with clarity on the retina. This results in a focused image on the retina.

In a patient with presbyopia, the lens lacks the flexibility to refocus the image on the retina. This causes the image to focus further and further behind the retina as the objects move closer to the observer. Individuals experience blurred vision and eye strain when they look at an object up close.

In a younger patient, the lens is very flexible, and it changes shape. This is known as accommodation. This process refocuses the image with clarity back onto the retina. This is a smooth process that is undetectable by a young observer. On the other hand, older individuals need help to refocus images up close, which is accomplished by using bifocals or reading glasses.

Symptoms of Presbyopia

• Not seeing so well in the dark
• Unable to read small print clearly
• Squinting
• Feeling tired after doing some work
• Eye strain or headaches after some physical activity
• Holding reading material at arm’s length

Treatment Options for Presbyopia

LASIK

Although presbyopia cannot be treated by LASIK, its variations allow you to be less dependent on your glasses or bifocals. Here, the dominant eye is corrected for distance vision, while the less-dominant eye remains untreated. The reason is, that a mildly nearsighted eye does not require glasses all the time. This treatment is popular across patients as a surgical correction for presbyopia.

PRK

PRK is also known as photorefractive keratectomy, and it’s an excellent option for patients who have a thin cornea. This treatment does not require epithelial tissue as opposed to other treatments.

Also Read: Difference between LASIK and PRK

Corneal Inlays

As opposed to LASIK and PRK, corneal inlays add tissue to the eyes instead of removing it. In this procedure, an implant is placed in the weaker eye. This is another form of monovision treatment that allows the dominant eye to preserve its distance vision.

Refractive Lens Exchange

A refractive lens exchange is a popular treatment option for patients with presbyopia. To improve your vision, the lens present in your eye is replaced with the help of IOL. This lens replacement procedure has been a treatment option for cataract patients or patients with a cloudy lens. The natural clouded lens is replaced with an artificial clear one.

Acupuncture

This technique activates the eye muscles to promote better focusing.

Homeopathy

Homeopathic practices improve your vision significantly.

Qigong

Qigong is a Chinese herbal medicine to correct presbyopia.

Natural Treatment for Presbyopia

While surgical treatments significantly improve your vision, you also need to adopt natural treatments to ensure your eyes remain healthy:

Eye Exercises

Eye exercises are easy to perform no matter where you are. And before you grab your morning coffee, make it a habit to perform a quick eye exercise every day. Perhaps even in the mid-afternoon when you experience an eye strain.

Drink Green Tea

Drinking green tea daily will fight diabetes and heart disease to protect the lens and retina from being damaged.

Keep Blood Glucose in Check

If you have high blood sugar, you have a higher chance of acquiring cataracts. You may damage your arteries and blood vessels, and that can lead to diabetic retinopathy.

Vitamins

The importance of eye vitamins for people with presbyopia cannot be understated, and a wide range of vitamins can help you with your vision problems:

• Vitamin A: Vitamin A is an essential supplement for good vision. Vitamin A has antioxidants that prevent conditions such as vision loss, hypermetropia, night blindness, cataracts, and glaucoma. Additionally, it treats common bacterial infections such as conjunctivitis.
• Vitamin B: The absence of Vitamin B in your diet can result in weaker eye muscles, especially in cases of Vitamin B1 deficiency.
• Zinc: The presence of zinc in your body helps Vitamin A perform better.
• Bioflavonoids: They have antioxidant properties to promote better eyesight.

While these tips are essential to give your vision a much-needed boost, make sure you change up your day-to-day activities a little.

A Couple of More Notes…

Make sure you take regular breaks from work. If you’re getting up from your desk to make yourself a cup of green tea, don’t go back to your desk with it immediately. Move around a little and walk down your office corridor or take a stroll down the neighborhood. This way, you’re giving your eyes enough time to rest before you get back to work.

To keep your eye health in check, make sure you visit an eye specialist who will give you insights into your condition. Each case is individual and unique, so make sure you consult with your doctor.