What does "presbyopia" refer to?

Presbyopia refers to the age-related loss of the ability to focus on nearby objects, a condition that typically begins to affect individuals in their early to mid-40s. This occurs as the lens of the eye becomes less flexible over time, making it more challenging to adjust focus for close-up tasks like reading or sewing. In contrast to other visual impairments that might affect clarity or peripheral vision, presbyopia specifically relates to difficulties with near vision and is a natural part of the aging process. Understanding this helps differentiate presbyopia from other vision conditions, which represent various other aspects of visual health. For example, while astigmatism distorts vision due to an irregular shape of the eye, presbyopia is distinctly tied to age and the biological changes in the eye's lens.