When it comes to eye health, the terms that are thrown around by the experts tend to leave us baffled. ‘Presbyopia?’ I hear you ask. No, it’s not the latest miracle food, it’s a medical term and one that most people will have to deal with. It’s just like grey hairs and wrinkles, it’s a condition that develops as we get older and currently affects over 1 billion people worldwide.
Presbyopia Definition
The word Presbyopia stems from Greek, two words meaning ‘old man'(presbys) and ‘eye'(ops), so you put the two together and you’ve got ‘old man eye’. Well, the official definition surprisingly isn’t ‘old man eye’, but rather:
“farsightedness caused by loss of elasticity of the lens of the eye, occurring typically in middle and old age.”
but I prefer to call it ‘old man eye’, it would make a trip to the opticians that little bit more fun. (Do remember that in Greek times, old age was anything more than 30, now it’s the prime of life)
What is Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is a natural occurrence that happens as we age. Typically, at around 40 years old, the lens in the eye loses its flexibility and the muscles around the eye may lose their elasticity. Both of these things can create problems when trying to focus on objects that are closer to us.
Presbyopia Symptoms
People who have Presbyopia but remain un-diagnosed tend to complain of headaches or eye strain when working with computers or spending any length of time viewing objects close up or reading. The symptoms are similar to farsightedness (Hyperopia) except that the causes are different and you are usually born with Hyperopia.
Presbyopia Treatment
Presbyopia isn’t so much something that has to be treated or cured but is something that if isn’t properly handled can further worsen your vision. The main solution is to wear reading glasses. These glasses have lenses that are specifically made to ensure comfortable vision when reading or seeing close up. I know the words strike horror into anyone stylish but thankfully with SmartBuyGlasses we can fit your prescription to most frames and give you cool reading glasses. Some people choose to buy the read-made frames that are all over the high-street but really glasses should always be fit with your exact prescription.
So I hope that’s cleared up your Presbyopic queries SmartBuyers. Should you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment in the box below.
