Reading problems (presbyopia)

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When you reach your 40s your eyesight starts to change, resulting in more difficulty with reading - this is known as presbyopia.

Normally when you read, muscles inside the eye move a lens which sets the focus of the eye to a closer distance. With age the lens becomes less flexible and harder to move, so reading requires more effort, which results in difficulty seeing small print, eyestrain and headaches.

Reading glasses are usually required to correct presbyopia, though if you already wear glasses you may need to consider bifocals or progressive glasses.

Contact lenses can also be an option when you require a reading correction. Either by mono-vision where one eye reads and the other sees distance (yes this does work!) or bifocal contact lenses.