Types

What Is Presbyopia?

Choose a preferred language

Presbyopia is the loss of close-up focusing. It's not a disease. It is a normal aging process of the eye. When you are younger, the lens in your eye changes shape to focus light directly on the back of your eye (the retina). But as you get older, the lens hardens and can't change its shape as easily. It then can’t focus clearly on close objects. This makes them look blurry.

Cross section of eye showing light focusing on retina normally.Cross section of eye showing light focused behind retina.


What are the symptoms?

Presbyopia makes it hard to do things close-up. This includes reading small print, using tools, and threading a needle. The first sign may be a tired feeling when you look at something close-up. Presbyopia most often starts when you’re 40 to 45 years old. But it can start at an earlier age.

© 2000-2026 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.

Make an Appointment

Make an Appointment

Find a Doctor

Find a Doctor

Find a Location

Find a Location
Related Articles
Read article
Eye Care
Understanding Color Blindness

Your retina has special cells that detect color. If you have a problem with these cells, you may not be able to see some colors.

Read article
Eye Care
Temporal Arteritis

Symptoms of temporal arteritis include headache, tenderness of the temples or scalp, jaw pain when chewing, muscle aches, fatigue, fever, and unintentional weight loss.

Read article
Eye Care
Convergence insufficiency

Convergence insufficiency (CI) is a problem with the way the eye moves. It makes it hard to focus on things nearby. When the eyes converge, it means they point inward (toward the midline) to focus on something close. With CI, the eyes have trouble doing this. One eye may turn out instead of looking inward. CI can cause blurred vision, double vision, and eyestrain.

Read article
Eye Care
Understanding herpes eye disease

Herpes eye disease is a condition caused by the herpes simplex virus. It causes redness, pain, tearing, and other symptoms in the eyes.