From our early to mid-forties, many of us start to find it increasingly difficult to see clearly at close distances – in fact you may have noticed this yourself when reading or working at your computer. It’s one of the most common problems we’ll develop as we age, but what causes vision loss? Well, this type of vision loss is caused by a disorder called presbyopia and unfortunately it progresses over time.
What is presbyopia?
The flexible element of focus in the eye, called the natural lens, enables most younger people to see objects clearly both close up and at a distance. As we age, this flexibility diminishes, causing our vision to deteriorate to a point where by our mid-forties most of us will need to start wearing reading glasses – even those who have previously never needed to do so!
So what treatments are available?
For most of us, most of the time, reading glasses will be sufficient. You can buy reading glasses off the shelf from most pharmacies or supermarkets but we’d always recommend seeing an optician to ensure the glasses strength is correct for you. If you also have short-sightedness you may find bifocal glasses are the best solution for you.
What else can contribute to vision loss?
There are many other factors that can affect your vision. Many eye conditions have no early warning signs or symptoms but a comprehensive eye examination can detect eye diseases in their early stages before vision loss occurs or deteriorates further. Some of the most common are:
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- Cataracts
- Diabetic eye disease
- Glaucoma
- Dry eye
- Low vision
We’re here to help
@Home Healthcare is a home-based service providing eye examinations, low vision services and care home visits across South Wales for those who are unable to make it out to see an optician. We have combined 50 years of healthcare professional expertise with the one vision of improving our patients’ lives.
We really care about your vision, so if you or any of your relatives have noticed a change or simply want a check over your eye health then the good news is we’re here for you. Check whether you are eligible for a home visit then get in touch to book a consultation for yourself or your family member.
