Presbyopia or eyestrain is a pathology in which the lens loses elasticity, preventing the focus of objects that are close. And it is that, for this approach to take place, the lens must change in length and shape, a capacity that is lost as people age. This condition begins to be noticed around the age of 45 , the person realizing that they need to hold the reading book at a greater distance than usual to get a good focus.
Keep in mind that it is a natural process and that it happens to all of us over the years. At FastlyHealwe explain the symptoms and treatment for presbyopia .
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What is the function of the lens in vision?
To understand well what presbyopia consists of, you have to know the importance of the lens in the eye, and consequently in vision. The crystalline lens is the lens of the eye and is located behind the iris, specifically between it and the vitreous humor. This natural lens has a higher refractive index than the fluids that surround it, which gives it its ability to refract light, helping the cornea to form images on the retina.
The main function of the lens is accommodation and consists of focusing on objects that are at different distances, achieving this by increasing or decreasing its curvature and thickness.
The eye at rest is adapted for distant vision. When the vision of nearby objects is required such as the mobile screen, a book or the restaurant menu, it is the lens along with the muscles and ligaments that surround it that must give rise to the accommodation mechanism. If elasticity is lost in the lens and this process is not carried out correctly, presbyopia or eyestrain occurs .
Symptoms and eye exams for presbyopia
As we have already mentioned previously, if you suffer from presbyopia your ability to focus will be diminished and the symptoms that will indicate that you have this modification in your lens are the following:
- Decreased ability to focus on nearby objects .
- Eye fatigue.
- Headache.
In the event that you have one or more of these symptoms, it is advisable that you go to an ophthalmologist for a general evaluation of the eyes. They thoroughly examine:
- The retina.
- Muscle integrity.
- Refractive capacity.
- Visual acuity.
Treatment for presbyopia
When treating this eye condition, you should know that there are different types of treatment for presbyopia :
- Temporary treatment , through the use of glasses, contact lenses, lasers or implants, which will need to be adjusted as tired eyesight progresses .
- Permanent treatment , through a definitive intervention that ends the problems derived from this pathology. It should be the ophthalmologist who after a preoperative consultation, assess the patient’s specific case to establish the most appropriate operation, since there are different variations of interventions to deal with presbyopia:
- Intervention with a multifocal intraocular lens : consists of extracting the lens that has already lost or is losing its accommodation capacity, to replace it with a multifocal intraocular lens, which allows the formation of three focus planes (far, medium distance and near distance), being the brain that chooses the most appropriate approach for each situation thanks to a procedure called pseudo-accommodation. These implants can be performed unilaterally or bilaterally and require surgery on the lens. If necessary, the excimer laser will be used during the intervention to correct possible refractive errors in vision.
- Laser intervention : with this treatment presbyopia is corrected, improving intermediate and near vision. Although when looking we see with both eyes, one eye is more specialized in seeing from afar (dominant eye) and another more specialized in seeing closely (reading eye). The treatment enhances the specialization of each eye.
If you feel like you are starting to have trouble focusing, you probably suffer from presbyopia or eyestrain. Remember that it is a normal problem and typical of the passage of time, and that you can also treat it. To do this, go to your ophthalmologist and together you can evaluate the treatment that best suits you.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Presbyopia: symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our Eyes and Vision category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.