What is Presbyopia?

Presbyopia (from the Greek word "presbyteros", meaning "older") is the eye's diminished ability to focus, which occurs with natural aging. Presbyopia is commonly believed to be caused by the hardening of the eye's crystalline lens, preventing it from bending easily to change focus.

Presbyopia is a condition that affects everyone at a certain age. The first symptoms are usually noticed between the ages of 40-50, though in fact the ability to focus declines throughout life.

For those with good distance vision, it may start with difficulty reading fine print, particularly if the lighting is poor, or with eyestrain when reading for long periods. Many advanced presbyopes complain that their arms have become "too short" to hold reading material at a comfortable distance.