How to Diagnose Presbyopia

Presbyopia is the diminished ability of the eye to focus on near objects. It usually develops after the age of 40 and is a normal part of the aging process. Reading glasses are the normal treatment for presbyopia although surgery is becoming an increasingly more common option.

Instructions

• 1

  Obtain the patient's history. The onset of presbyopia is usually marked by the need to hold print at arm's length, especially in low light conditions. Patients that are nearsighted may find that they no longer need glasses to read.

• 2

  Observe additional symptoms of presbyopia. The eyes tire easily and prolonged reading can become uncomfortable and may be accompanied by headaches. Blurred vision also is common, especially when changing the viewing distance.

• 3

  Monitor the progression of presbyopia. A person's ability to focus on near objects decreases throughout life and the minimum distance is about a foot at the age of 45. This can be accommodated by simply stretching the arms to read.

• 4

  Measure the degree of accommodation of which the eyes are capable. This drops to about two diopters by the age of 50, at which point the patient will definitely require reading glasses. Patients with good distance vision may find that they can use over-the-counter reading glasses while patients with poor distance vision will need prescription reading glasses.

• 5

  Expect the presbyopic eye to stabilize at about one diopter of correction sometime after the age of 55. Patients in this age group will frequently need bifocals to accommodate poor near and distance vision.