Presbyopia

1. State that the problem appears with age. 2. Mention weakened ciliary muscles and reduced lens flexibility. 3. Say that the near point moves away. 4. Explain that reading becomes difficult. 5. Add that bifocal or suitable corrective lenses are used.

Draw a normal near-vision path and a presbyopic eye where the near image would fall behind the retina. Show a bifocal lens option if needed.

A common wrong answer is to describe presbyopia as a defect of distant vision. That is incorrect because it mainly affects near vision.

Presbyopia is an age-related defect in which the power of accommodation decreases and near vision becomes difficult.

Presbyopia is an age-related defect in which the power of accommodation decreases and near vision becomes difficult. Presbyopia is corrected by lenses that help near vision, often bifocal lenses when distance vision is also affected. An older teacher may be able to see the blackboard clearly but need reading glasses for a small-print book.

As a person grows older, the ciliary muscles weaken and the eye lens loses flexibility. The near point shifts farther away, so reading nearby text becomes difficult. In many cases, bifocal lenses or suitable combinations of lenses are used for correction. Presbyopia is corrected by lenses that help near vision, often bifocal lenses when distance vision is also affected. A 55-year-old person can watch television clearly but cannot read a medicine label at 25 cm. The near point has shifted farther away, so reading glasses are needed to aid near focus. Explain age-related decrease in near vision, or compare presbyopia with myopia and hypermetropia. A common wrong answer is to describe presbyopia as a defect of distant vision. That is incorrect because it mainly affects near vision.