Presbyopia: Age-related farsightedness
If you’re around age 40, you may notice that it’s getting harder to read small print. This is called presbyopia, and it’s the most common change occurring in the adult eye.
Why does eyesight get worse?
Inside your eye, behind the pupil and iris, sits the lens. The lens is a transparent disc that helps you see by focusing the light that comes into your eye. When you’re young, it’s very flexible, so the little muscles that control the shape of the lens can easily help you focus on things near and far. Gradually, the lenses inside your eyes stiffen, making changing the lens shape more difficult, affecting your close-range vision.
Normal close-range vision
As you switch from looking at something far away to something up close, the lens flexes to help you focus, directing the light to the retina.
Close range with presbyopia
When you have presbyopia, the lens cannot flex enough to focus the light properly on the retina when you’re doing things like reading.
At what age does eyesight start to deteriorate?
When we say gradually, we mean gradually. Surprisingly, this process may even begin as early as in childhood. Fortunately, it doesn’t become noticeable for most people until they’re in their 40s. Around that time is when you may begin to experience blurred vision when you do things like read a book, look at restaurant menus, or sew. The lens keeps getting stiffer until around the mid-60s, when the stiffness levels off.
Can presbyopia be prevented?
There’s no way to prevent presbyopia, at least not yet. One way to help reduce the strain on the muscles in your eye is to follow the 20-20-20 rule. When you’re reading or doing other near-work like using a computer, take a 20 second break every 20 minutes to look at something at least 20 feet away.
How to correct age-related vision loss
Many eye doctors say that people don’t come to visit them until their arms become “too short” to be able to read clearly. You don’t have to wait that long to see an eye doctor if your vision is changing. They can diagnose the issue and help you come up with a treatment plan. Today, there are more options for treating presbyopia now than there ever have been. Those options include:
- Spectacles
- Contact lenses
- Refractive Surgery
- Eye drops
Why choose ACUVUE for presbyopia?
Clear vision near and far
Seamlessly go from reading close up to seeing far away, even on the move.
Optimized for your pupils
Pupil size changes with age. We account for that to provide clear, crisp vision.
Designed for all-day comfort
ACUVUE contact lenses are moisture-infused to help prevent dry, itchy eyes.
UV protection#
UV blocking# is standard across our entire line of contact lenses.
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Footnotes
Consult your eye care professional for more information. J&J does not provide medical advice; this information is for educational purposes only.
#Helps protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye.
WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long-term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.
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Important Information For Contact Lens Wearers: ACUVUE Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional and ask for a Patient Instruction Guide, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guides.
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