Back to all news
0min
Do things look blurry to you? Are you shifting books and other things further away so you can read them more easily? Do you have difficulty focusing when the lights are low?
You’re in the right place because today we’re talking about presbyopia. It’s a natural condition that sooner or later affects everyone. But what is presbyopia and what solutions are available?
What is presbyopia?
The word presbyopia derives from the Greek présbys meaning “old”. In fact, presbyopia is an age-related physiological condition that affects the ability of the eyes to focus on nearby objects. It occurs when the crystalline lens loses elasticity and flexibility, making it difficult to focus on close objects. Presbyopia is therefore a condition related to the natural ageing process of the crystalline lens, which usually begins to appear around the age of 40 and gradually worsens as the years go by.
How to tell if you’re becoming long-sighted?
If you’re 40 years of age or older and have experienced symptoms such as:
- Difficulty reading small texts such as books, newspapers or label
- You need to hold reading materials further than normal to focus on them
- Eye fatigue and headaches after doing things that require close vision, such as sewing or working on a computer
- Greater difficulty seeing nearby objects in low light
then you’ve probably joined the presbyopic club. But before considering a solution to this new problem, you’ll need to consult an ophthalmologist who will assess your eyesight and confirm whether or not it is in fact presbyopia.
Simple presbyopia, complex presbyopia and mixed cases
There are two types of presbyopia:
Simple presbyopia in which the corrective diopters are the same for both eyes.
Complex presbyopia in which the eyes require two different diopters.
The second case also includes a “mixed” situation, which concerns people who already have visual defects such as myopia (short-sightedness), astigmatism and hypermetropia (long-sightedness), which are then joined by presbyopia (age-related long-sightedness).
The role of glasses in correcting cases of presbyopia
Reading glasses are one of the most common and effective methods of correcting simple presbyopia. In addition to being available in numerous colour variants and frame types (glasant, nylor, with magnetic closure), they can be fitted with different lenses, as needed:
Lenses for simple presbyopia: these offer only one magnification power and are suitable for those who only have difficulties seeing things up close, without any other visual defect.
Reading sunglasses: for those who only suffer from presbyopia and want to read outdoors.
Anti-blue light lenses to protect the eyes while reading on monitors and smartphones.
On Utilissimi you can find lots of solutions to correct simple presbyopia: men's and women's reading glasses, presbyopia glasses for reading outdoors and with blue light filters.
A team of opticians is also available to help you find the best solution for your eyes.
