Many men and women resist buying their first pair of reading glasses. To them, reading glasses—no matter how stylish—are irrefutable proof that the aging process is marching on. Fortunately, new alternatives are available to those who don't like the thought of fishing glasses out of their bag or their pocket each time they need to read a menu.
Below, Penny A. Asbell, MD, a professor of ophthalmology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, discusses why people lose their ability to read close-up—a condition called presbyopia—and reviews their vision options.
Why does our vision change as we age?
Inside the eye is a lens, and that lens actually changes shape. When we are young and we're looking into the distance and then close-up, the lens changes shape so that we can focus and continue to have good vision. What happens as we age is that lens gets a little stiffer, and it doesn't change shape as easily. That is when you start reaching for reading glasses, because you need the extra power that your own lens can't provide anymore. We call that presbyopia, when you can no longer see close-up.
Who ends up needing reading glasses?
Everybody ends up needing reading glasses. This is universal. There are people who had great vision their whole life. They said, "I'm eagle eyes. I can see everything far away." Now they're in their 40s, and they're having trouble reading, and it's really disturbing to them.
Copyright 2009 NBC Health
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