The first signs of presbyopia usually appear between 40 and 45: reading up close becomes less comfortable, especially in the evening or in dim light. The diagnosis is simple, but the eye examination also checks that the problem has no other cause.
Key points
- You hold text further away to read it: "my arms are getting too short".
- You need more light to read.
- Eye strain, stinging or headaches after reading or screen work.
- The examination measures near vision and the correction needed, and checks the health of the eye.
Signs that suggest presbyopia
- difficulty reading small print: leaflets, labels, phone;
- needing to hold text further away for it to become sharp;
- needing brighter light;
- eye strain, stinging eyes or headaches at the end of the day;
- blurred vision when switching from far to near.
Depending on your starting vision
If you have never worn glasses, difficulty up close is often the first sign. If you are long-sighted, it may appear before 40. If you are short-sighted, you will rather notice that you read better without your glasses. If you already wear contact lenses, reading becomes difficult with them.
Good to know
On a prescription, presbyopia appears as "Add +1.50" (for example): this is the power to add for near vision.
Tests at the ophthalmologist
- Visual acuity for distance and near, with and without correction;
- Refraction, which measures associated defects (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism) and the addition, i.e. the extra correction needed for near;
- Examination of the crystalline lens, to look for an early cataract;
- eye pressure measurement and fundus examination, to screen for glaucoma or retinal disease, which are more common with age;
- before planned surgery, tests of the cornea (topography, thickness).
When to see a doctor?
As soon as near vision becomes bothersome. The examination allows a suitable correction to be prescribed, and is a good opportunity to check the health of the eye after 40. See a doctor without delay in case of sudden loss of vision, distortion of straight lines or a red, painful eye.
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
Most often between 40 and 45, sometimes earlier in long-sighted people or in those who do a lot of close reading.
They can help in the short term, but they do not correct astigmatism or a difference between the two eyes, and they do not replace the examination that checks the health of the eye.
Presbyopia itself is benign. But the age at which it appears is also the age at which glaucoma and cataract are screened for: it is a good opportunity for a full examination.
This general information does not replace a consultation: only an eye examination can establish a diagnosis and discuss a suitable treatment.