Presbyopia is an age-related condition that causes blurred near vision. It typically starts at around age 40 and affects everyone, even those who've never had vision problems before.

When presbyopia begins, people will squint or hold reading materials at arm's length to help their eyes focus. Eye strain, headache and fatigue are common symptoms of presbyopia.

Most experts believe presbyopia is caused by changes to the lens inside the eye. As people age, the lens becomes harder and less elastic, making it more difficult for the eye to focus on close objects.

For centuries presbyopia was corrected with the use of bifocal eyeglasses. Today there are many ways to correct presbyopia with eyeglasses, contact lenses, and surgery.

Contact Lenses for Presbyopia

Bifocal contact lenses are now available in many soft and gas permeable lens designs. Similar to bifocal eyeglasses, bifocal contacts have two prescriptive powers for distance and near vision. Multifocal contact lenses are also available with additional variations in power to correct near, intermediate, and far vision.

Monovision is another contact lens option for correcting presbyopia, where one eye wears a near vision lens, and the other eye wears a distance vision lens. Your eyes automatically focus properly depending on the visual situation.

Contact lenses wearers can also use a distance lens in both eyes, and then wear reading glasses for close-up work.