Have you noticed a difference in your vision that has made focusing at close distances increasingly difficult? You're not alone. This condition is referred to as presbyopia (pronounced prez-bee-OH-pee-uh), an unavoidable limitation to your vision that occurs with age and hinders your ability to change focus between distant and near objects.

Presbyopia is nothing to be alarmed about. It is a natural part of life that occurs in virtually everyone. In fact, it currently affects about 100 million Americans. The only difference is the degree to which people experience it and at what age it begins to affect them. Some people start noticing symptoms around age 40, while others may not notice anything until later.

One thing you can count on is that once presbyopia begins, your vision and the way it's corrected will continue to change. It will become vital that you have regular eye exams and that you clearly communicate with your Eye Care Professional about your vision needs and expectations.

Recognizing the symptoms of presbyopia largely depends on the daily tasks or routines you perform and your need to focus close-up. However there are some classic signs associated with presbyopia that you can look for:

• Do you tend to move things further away to help you focus or read - like a menu?
• Have you experienced difficulty performing certain close-up tasks, such as reading fine print in the newspaper or threading a needle?
• Is reading not as enjoyable as it once was because you become sleepy, get headaches, or have trouble focusing?
• Do you have difficulty reading in dim light?
• Have you noticed that any of the above signs seem to get worse as the day progresses?

If you've noticed any of these signs, be sure to tell your Eye Care Professional so he or she can determine if you're becoming presbyopic and if vision correction is needed at this time.