Understanding Presbyopia
The lens inside the eye gradually stiffens with age, so it can't change shape to focus on near objects. Everyone develops presbyopia eventually — including people who have never needed glasses.
Common symptoms
- Holding reading material at arm's length
- Blurry near vision in dim light
- Eye strain or headaches after close work
How Dr. Nicola can help
- Refraction for reading glasses, bifocals, or progressive lenses
- A baseline medical eye exam at 40, as recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Discussion of lens implant options for patients who are also developing cataracts
Frequently asked questions
Are drugstore reading glasses okay?
They can work well for many people, but they don't correct astigmatism or differences between the eyes — and they don't replace a medical eye exam to check for glaucoma and other silent conditions that become more common after 40.
This page is general patient education and is not a substitute for an examination. If you have a question about your own eyes, please call our office.