Presbyopia is an anomaly of refraction of the eye. Presbyopia: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Presbyopia is a decrease in the accommodative possibilities of the eye, which can be produced quickly, but can manifest gradually. A person who used to see well near starts to see several times worse, most often people start to notice it after 60 years.

What is presbyopia?

Doctors believe that presbyopia is not a disease, but these are the usual processes that occur in the human body, while changes can not be attributed to pathologies, this is a natural process. Treatment can improve the patient's condition a little, but it is unlikely to fully restore vision.

This process can be slowed down a little, in addition, patients at risk are advised to visit the ophthalmologist as often as possible. Let's take a closer look at the concept of presbyopia of the eye, what it is and what consequences may be from this process.

Who is at risk and the factors that influence the process of presbyopia

The process can be accompanied by various diseases, and external factors that the person does not pay special attention to, can influence the development of presbyopia. Let's consider them in more detail:

1. Elderly eye diseases, such as glaucoma or cataract.
2. The process of loss of vision can begin as a result of diabetes mellitus.
3. Genetic predisposition is allocated to people after 45 years.
4. Constant work that requires eye strain or work with small details.
5. Diseases of the heart and brain.
6. Continuous use of certain medications for various purposes.
7. Living in difficult regions where there are large temperature changes.
8. Poor nutrition and unworthy living conditions.

The process of loss of vision can begin to develop not only in people over 60, but also in adolescents, but such cases are quite rare.

What is the essence of presbyopia?

Presbyopia is an anomaly of the refraction of the eye that comes with age. Under the concept of refraction of the eye is meant a violation of the refraction of light in the optical system. The whole system of the eye consists of such components: the cornea, the iris of the eye, the lens, the vitreous.

Light passes through all the components and enters the retina, where the process of converting light particles into nerve impulses forming images takes place.

The causes of presbyopia

Presbyopia is the aging of the lens, which occurs naturally in connection with the age of the person. Of course, such changes can not occur dramatically, they are manifested gradually. The muscles of the eye become weaker, so that the lens begins to warp, as a result, the person begins to lose the ability to focus at different distances.

If you pay attention to the loss of vision in time, you can stop it. If there is a suspicion that the patient develops presbyopia, the reasons given by the doctors are basically the following:

1. First of all, the wrong food and lack of vitamins in the human body.
2. Changes in the normal anatomy of the eye, this can occur in youth, for example, myopia and hyperopia become the main companions of the presbyopia process.
3. Loss of ability to focus on the subject, associated with nervous disorders.

Symptoms of presbyopia

Recognize presbyopia is not difficult: a person gradually begins to lose the ability to recognize objects. More often than not, people pay attention to the loss of sight when reading, the letters in the book begin to blur, and you can only see what is written on the sheet by pushing the book a distance. Vision becomes somewhat clouded, but this can be an individual manifestation.

Presbyopia can be a complication of farsightedness or nearsightedness. With congenital farsightedness, vision is reduced not only with close reading of the book, but also distant. Patients who suffer from myopia may initially not develop presbyopia.

Symptoms of presbyopia

As a rule, patients begin to turn to the ophthalmologist, when the ability to recognize near the outlines of a small object is lost. When it begins to be removed from the eyes, it takes on its outlines, and you can recognize the object in question. Problems can arise in bright light, the clarity of vision is lost due to narrowing of the pupil and focus occurs in the depth of the eyeball.

A person can complain of blurred vision while shifting a glance from one point to another. In addition, the following symptoms can be distinguished:

1. Frequent headaches.
2. Discomfort in the eye area.
3. Development of strabismus.
4. Doubling in the eyes.

Complications and consequences of presbyopia

Despite the fact that the process of presbyopia manifests itself in the elderly, it causes many problems for a person and prevents him from leading a full-fledged lifestyle. In order to identify the main cause of vision loss in time, it is worthwhile to seek help from doctors who will diagnose and prescribe the right treatment, otherwise complications may begin to develop:

1. The patient experiences severe headaches and persistent dizziness during presbyopia.
2. There are certain difficulties in reading and writing.

Diagnostics of presbyopia

If there is a suspicion that a person develops presbyopia, treatment, causes, symptoms - this is the most basic thing that needs to be paid attention. An experienced ophthalmologist will first appoint such types of diagnostics:

1. Initially, a complete history of complaints is collected. The patient should fully communicate to the doctor all his feelings and indicate when changes in vision began to occur.
2. The doctor must necessarily take an interest in the patient's age, find out whether he has had eye injuries or surgery on the eyes, whether the patient suffers from mental disorders.
3. The next step will be the conduct of a visometry, which helps to determine the clarity of vision. To do this, the Sintsev-Golovin tables are used: they are depicted in letters, pictures or semirings.
4. A popular method of investigating vision is considered automatic refractometry. Considering the fact that presbyopia is also the refraction of the eye, the process of refraction of light in the patient's optical system is studied using a special apparatus. The patient puts his head on the apparatus and fixes it in one position, the refractometer emits infrared light. During this procedure, the doctor monitors the changes, while the patient does not experience any pain.
5. A more complex method is considered an ophthalmometry, when the radii of curvature and the acting force are measured.
6. Ultrasound biometry is performed using ultrasound. Using this method, you can examine the anterior chamber of the eye, as well as examine the iris in more detail and even determine the axes of the eyeballs.
7. Biomicroscopy of the eye allows the ophthalmologist to get a more complete picture of the disease. For this, a special ophthalmic microscope and a lighting device are used.
8. To check vision it is possible on a photoprotection is a special device for diagnostics. Through him, the patient looks at the tables, located at different distances.
9. Computer keratotopography helps to examine the cornea with the help of laser beams.
10. Ophthalmoscopy examines the fundus by means of a special apparatus. This method makes it possible to investigate the state of the retina and optic nerve, and also to examine the vessels of the fundus.
11. When presbyopia is suspected, diagnosis and treatment may consist in the selection of suitable lenses, since each eye may require its own degree of refraction.

Presbyopia treatment

In order to correct vision, the doctor prescribes lenses or glasses to the patient. If earlier there were no problems, then glasses for reading are prescribed. Also, if there is presbyopia of both eyes, treatment, eye exercises in the aggregate will help restore vision not completely, but definitely improve it, for this the doctors develop whole sets of gymnastics for the eyes.

In the event that no improvement occurs, the patient undergoes surgery. Surgical treatment can be laser, in which the shape of the cornea changes with the help of an optical beam. Implantation of the artificial lens is also performed with the help of surgical intervention. It is important to remember about the proper vitaminized nutrition.

Prevention of presbyopia

Having figured out how exactly presbyopia affects a person's life, what it is, you should carefully study the recommendations for prevention:

1. Try to relax the eyelids as much as possible while reading or writing, often flashing them. This time will be enough for the eyes to rest.
2. If the laminas do not have enough moisture, then special drops can be used.
3. Follow the lighting mode, eye strain should be in good light.
4. Interrupt the work to do gymnastics for the eyes. It will be enough to give only 10 minutes for three hours of work.
5. Correct the vision with the help of a specialist, only he will be able to choose the correct glasses or lenses.
6. Physical loads in the form of swimming, walks in the park, jogging.
7. Full nutrition, which must necessarily be present all the substances without which a person can not live and develop.

As you can see, if you are attentive to your health and get help from qualified specialists in a timely manner, you will not have problems with your eyesight. Especially, do not be afraid of visiting an ophthalmologist, because presbyopia is not a disease, but a natural process of aging of a person, due to which vision deteriorates.