Farsightedness (hyperopia) and presbyopia are two common and often confused vision defects; indeed, their symptoms can be similar.
Both usually cause headaches, eye strain, and even general fatigue, and difficulty seeing clearly up close. For most, distant objects are clear while close objects are blurry. These symptoms are identical but their explanations are different.
What is hyperopia?
Hyperopia is a refractive error of the eye that one has since childhood; a person with hyperopia is bothered by close-up vision but can also be bothered by distant vision.
This is often due to an "overly short" eye: the retinal image of an object forms behind the retina, making vision blurry. Close-up vision is therefore difficult.
What is presbyopia?
Presbyopia is an age-related defect due to a loss of accommodation.
As we age, the lens (the organ of accommodation) loses its flexibility. It becomes difficult to deform, and objects, texts, and details in close-up vision become increasingly blurry.
Following the lines of a newspaper or the transition from distant to close-up vision becomes complicated.
This phenomenon occurs around age 45. This is why it is necessary to pay attention and to consult an ophthalmologist who will perform a visual examination.
You can read our article on presbyopia for more information.
How to improve your visual comfort?
A 35-year-old person with blurry close-up vision is generally not a "young" presbyope but an uncorrected hyperope who can no longer accommodate for comfortable close-up vision.
After 40-45 years old, hyperopes also become presbyopic! Currently, no solution exists to prevent either defect.
A healthy and balanced diet, regular visual exercises... are the best ways to guard against these problems but do not prevent them.
However, there are simple and effective solutions for daily life. Have you heard about proximity glasses? They improve your close-up and intermediate vision as well as your ability to switch from far to near.
