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What is presbyopia?
What is presbyopia?
Presbyopia is a natural age-related change in vision that makes it harder to focus on near objects, such as reading or using a smartphone. It usually begins in your 40s and happens because the eye’s natural lens becomes less flexible over time. Common symptoms include needing brighter light to read, holding things farther away, and eye strain. Presbyopia can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or modern surgical options such as lens-based vision correction.
Symptoms of presbyopia
Symptoms of presbyopia
Blurred vision when reading or looking at close objects
Needing to hold books or a phone farther away to see clearly
Eye strain or tired eyes after close work
Headaches after prolonged reading or screen use
Difficulty seeing in low light when reading
Trouble focusing when switching from near to distance vision
Reduced comfort with smartphones, tablets, or fine print
What is the solution?
What is the solution?
Reading glasses – simple and effective for near tasks
Multifocal or bifocal glasses – correct both distance and near vision
Progressive lenses – seamless correction for distance, intermediate, and near
Contact lenses (multifocal or monovision) – reduce the need for glasses
Prescription drops (Vuity, Qlosi, VIZZ) – temporarily improve near focus in selected patients. None of them funded in NZ.
Laser vision correction (monovision) – one eye set for distance, the other for near
Lens-based surgery (refractive lens exchange or cataract surgery) – replaces the natural lens with a multifocal or EDOF intraocular lens
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