Around your mid-40s, you may notice that restaurant menus are getting harder to read, your phone needs to be held at arm's length, and you need more light than you used to. This is presbyopia — and it happens to virtually everyone, regardless of whether they've needed glasses before.
What Is Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is the gradual loss of the eye's ability to focus on near objects. It is caused by the natural hardening of the crystalline lens inside the eye over time. From birth, this lens is soft and flexible, allowing it to change shape to focus at different distances. From around age 40, it becomes progressively stiffer, reducing the range of focus available.
Presbyopia is not a disease — it is a normal and universal part of ageing. It cannot be prevented, but it is very easily managed with the right optical solution.
Your Options for Managing Presbyopia
Reading Glasses
The simplest solution: single vision lenses optimised for near distance. Ideal if you only need help for reading and don't have a distance prescription. We can measure your exact reading prescription rather than relying on over-the-counter magnifiers, which rarely match your actual needs.
Progressive Lenses
Progressive lenses are the most popular choice for people with presbyopia who also need distance correction. They provide a seamless gradient of prescription from distance at the top to near at the bottom, with no visible line. Modern progressive designs are significantly better than older versions — wider vision zones, less distortion at the edges, and a much shorter adaptation period.
Multifocal Contact Lenses
Many people are surprised to learn that contact lenses work well for presbyopia. Multifocal soft contact lenses use concentric ring designs to provide both distance and near vision simultaneously. A great option for people who don't want to wear glasses full-time.
Monovision Contact Lenses
One eye is fitted for distance, the other for near. The brain learns to favour the appropriate eye for each task. An adaptation period is needed but this works very well for many patients.
When to Book an Eye Test
If you are in your 40s and noticing any difficulty with near vision, a comprehensive eye test will determine your exact prescription and help you choose the right solution. The test is bulk billed under Medicare for eligible patients.
Book online or call us on (02) 9761 0005. We are at 43 Auburn Road, Auburn NSW 2144. Serving patients from Auburn, Berala, Lidcombe, Granville, Parramatta and across Western Sydney.