Question:
As I get older, I've noticed it takes longer for my eyes to adjust focus from doing close-up work to looking into the distance. As a result, distant objects appear blurry at first. What causes this?Betsy / Virginia
Answer:
The focusing problem you describe may be an early symptom of presbyopia, an age-related change in vision. Presbyopia is not the same as farsightedness. In presbyopia, your eyes gradually lose the ability to adjust to see clearly objects at different distances. The most common presbyopia symptom is blurry close-up vision. But you may also experience blurred vision when changing your focus from near to far objects.
If you're experiencing this problem after prolonged close-up work, such as reading or working at a computer, try resting your eyes by closing them for 20 to 30 seconds. This may help minimize the symptoms. If you don't normally wear prescription glasses, you may consider getting a pair of nonprescription reading glasses that can be used for close-up work.
If you're concerned about these vision changes, make an appointment with your eye doctor. An eye exam can identify any potential eye or vision problems that may require further evaluation and treatment.
 |  |  |
| Video: LASIK eye surgery | ||
 |  |  |
| | |
| Contact lenses: What to know before you buy | ||
| | |
| | |
| Presbyopia | ||
| | |
© 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
Legal restrictions and terms of use applicable to content provided to this site by MayoClinic.com/Mayo Clinic Health Information. Use thereof signifies your agreement to these terms of use.
Updated: 02/21/2009
