The beginning of presbyopia, not wrinkles - Professor Lee Hoon at Seoul Asan Medical Center

https://youtu.be/7kHIRXbcE-0?si=zrf7s9B7tSU29lRW

 

If suddenly from a certain day, you find it difficult to see objects both far away and nearby clearly and your eyes become easily fatigued, you should suspect presbyopia.

 

The eyes are the organs in our body that age the fastest, and as we get older, the elasticity of the lens decreases, preventing the lens from thickening when viewing nearby objects, causing it to remain elongated.

 

This causes the focus to become blurry and difficult to see even when looking at objects nearby, which is called 'presbyopia'.

 

Sometimes people confuse presbyopia with cataracts.

 

Presbyopia is a physiological phenomenon that occurs with aging and is different from age-related diseases such as cataracts.

 

So, what are the differences in symptoms between presbyopia and cataracts?

 

[Interview with Professor Lee Hoon of the Department of Ophthalmology at Seoul Asan Medical Center]

Cataracts are a condition where the lens becomes cloudy, causing vision to appear foggy, while presbyopia is a phenomenon where the lens's focusing ability declines, making it difficult to see objects up close.

 

The reasons for lens clouding vary, but the most common cause is known to be 'aging' of the lens. It was previously thought to be just presbyopia, but there have been quite a few cases where severe cataracts are discovered, so please do not self-diagnose and be sure to visit a hospital for a detailed examination.

 

Many people wear magnifying glasses when presbyopia occurs.

 

Properly powered magnifying glasses help preserve near vision ability to some extent and slow the progression of presbyopia.

 

However, adjusting glasses arbitrarily or wearing excessively strong magnifying glasses can actually harm eye health, so it is essential to consult an ophthalmologist before wearing glasses.

 

Then, besides magnifying glasses, are there any surgical treatment options for presbyopia?

 

[Interview with Professor Lee Hoon of the Department of Ophthalmology at Seoul Asan Medical Center]

When moderate cataracts and presbyopia that can affect vision are present, performing cataract surgery with the implantation of a multifocal intraocular lens can greatly help with presbyopia.

 

Multifocal intraocular lenses are specialized lenses designed to provide good vision at far, intermediate, and near distances, making them a commonly performed surgery recently.

 

However, if there is little to no cataract or if the existing vision is already good, receiving a multifocal intraocular lens implant may result in lower satisfaction, so caution is necessary. Therefore, if symptoms such as decreased vision occur, do not self-diagnose; instead, visit the hospital for a detailed examination.

 

Recently, many people are taking supplements like lutein to protect their eye health and prevent presbyopia.

 

Taking eye supplements containing lutein or consuming vegetables such as carrots, corn, sweet potatoes, spinach, and broccoli can help maintain eye health.

 

However, the most important thing for eye health is to reduce eye fatigue, so it is not good to look at computers or smartphones for long periods of time.

 

Staring at a screen for a long time in a dark place is also a risky behavior that promotes presbyopia, and especially, looking at a smartphone with the lights off before bed should never be done.

 

Additionally, during the summer when ultraviolet rays are strong, it is advisable to wear sunglasses, and even in your 30s if you are in your middle age or older, or if you have undergone vision correction surgery.

Regular eye examinations are necessary.

 

The beginning of aging: presbyopia.

Your efforts and regular check-ups can help delay it.