Presbyopia

Presbyopia: decreased elasticity of the lens due to advancing age which moves the near point of vision farther from the eye, making it difficult to focus on near objects.

When you are young, the lens in your eye is soft and flexible. The lens of the eye changes its shape easily, allowing you to focus on objects both close and far away.

After the age of 40, the lens becomes more rigid. Because the lens can’t change shape as easily as it once did, it is more difficult to read at close range. This normal condition is called presbyopia. You might find that a need to hold reading material farther away than you used to. You also may need more light to focus up close.

Since nearly everyone develops presbyopia, if a person also has myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism, the conditions will combine. People with myopia may have fewer problems with presbyopia.