Surely you are already aware of what presbyopia or eyestrain is and that it is not only very common: It is inevitable. Sooner or later all people will notice symptoms of eyestrain, because the human eye loses its elasticity with age in all cases. It is a natural process that comes to some people earlier and others later but always ends up coming.
However, as this process can begin to take place at any time between the ages of forty and forty-five, it is not strange that some of the people when they begin to suffer from it closer to forty, worry and think that they may have a serious illness or, on the contrary, that they do not detect it and force their sight unnecessarily.
Presbyopia or farsightedness
Presbyopia or eyestrain and farsightedness have similar symptoms. Both visual problems affect near vision. However, the origin is different. While farsightedness is an eye defect in which images are focused behind the retina, eyestrain or presbyopia has its origin in deterioration due to aging.
Farsightedness occurs when the eyeball is too small or because of a defect in the shape of the cornea. On the other hand, tired eyesight occurs because the lens ages and loses elasticity over time.
Farsightedness can occur at any time in life, but eyestrain is very rare to appear before the age of 40. If you are under forty and notice symptoms of eyestrain, it is more likely to be farsighted, but it is important to go to a specialist to get the correct diagnosis.
Symptoms of eyestrain
As mentioned above, as a general rule the first symptoms usually begin to be noticed between 40 and 45 years. However, it is also possible to notice them later, especially if we have taken care of our eye health frequently.
If you are over forty and have begun to notice some of the following symptoms, you may be starting to suffer from presbyopia:
- Trouble focusing closely: This is the main symptom of presbyopia or eyestrain. If when you try to read a text or look at the mobile, you have difficulty focusing on letters and images at close range and you have to move the object away to get clarity, it is a likely symptom of eyestrain.
- You need more lighting: If you notice that you need more light to read or consult the mobile in places where you did not have any problems before, it could be a symptom of eyestrain. This is a more difficult symptom to detect, because with bright lights the pupil contracts and it is more complicated to notice the difference. Especially indoors, it’s easier to blame the amount of light coming through the window than our eyes.
- Reading costs you more and more: If you notice that when you face a text the letters seem to join each other, it is another symptom of probable presbyopia. Of course, if you are having this problem, but you are not old enough to have eyestrain, consult an optician because it could be a symptom of something else.
- Sientes que tareas del día a día se vuelven complicadas: Sobre todo si a la hora de conducir (principalmente con poca luz o baja visibilidad) o de realizar tareas como escribir, notas que tienes que forzar la vista más de lo habitual, es posible que estés empezando a sufrir vista cansada.
- Cansancio ocular: Si notas que cada vez puedes pasar menos tiempo realizando ciertas tareas (como leer, escribir o pasar tiempo trabajando delante del ordenador) sin tener que parar a descansar la vista un rato, puede que estés sufriendo síntomas de vista cansada.
- Migraines and headaches: This is one of the most annoying symptoms and they can sometimes be worrisome if they are not associated with the extra visual effort that is taking place. We often overexert ourselves without realizing it and this leads to severe headaches and migraines that occur more and more frequently.
What to do if you notice symptoms of eyestrain
If you think you may have eyestrain or presbyopia, the best thing you can do is go to an optician-optometrist or your trusted optician to have an evaluation and determine the origin of your symptoms.
If, indeed, it is tired eyesight, it is most likely that you will be prescribed glasses for close-up, reading glasses or progressive or occupational glasses.
You will also have the option of using progressive contact lenses if you feel more comfortable or comfortable without having to resort to glasses. Either option will help you correct eyestrain.
In Optics you will find a wide variety of models of glasses whose lenses you can graduate to adapt them to the correction of tired eyesight. Find the ones you like the most in our online catalog or pay us a visit to any of our physical Optics stores