Presbyopia Treatments and Tips for Managing Symptoms

You cannot correct, prevent, or slow down presbyopia with eye exercises. But there are treatment options and lifestyle tips that can help you manage your symptoms.

Presbyopia is a loss of close vision that happens as people get older. It’s part of the natural aging process.

Eye exercises will not correct, treat, prevent, or slow down presbyopia. However, some treatments can manage symptoms of presbyopia, and some lifestyle tips may help reduce eyestrain and improve your overall eye health.

This article reviews tips for managing symptoms of presbyopia.

Read more about presbyopia.

What are the common symptoms of presbyopia?

Presbyopia usually first develops when people are between 40 and 50 years old. The earliest symptom is often difficulty reading small print at a close distance. Sometimes, close-up reading is more difficult in dim lighting.

Other symptoms of presbyopia include:

• dizziness
• headaches
• words that appear blurred when reading
• having to adjust how you hold books or phones to read text
• eyestrain or eye fatigue
• dry eye
• double vision

Treatment options for correcting presbyopia-related vision problems

While you can’t cure presbyopia, treatments are available for correcting your vision. Treatments include:

• Corrective eyeglasses: You may be able to improve your ability to read small print by purchasing over-the-counter (OTC) reading glasses. They’re typically available at pharmacies or drugstores. Bring a book to the store and try different degrees of magnification to see what works best for you.
• Prescription eyeglasses: If OTC reading glasses aren’t working for you, an eye doctor can prescribe lenses that are tailored to correct your vision.
• Contact lenses: Contact lenses may be another option to address presbyopia, but not everyone can wear them. For example, if you have dry eye or certain eyelid conditions, contact lenses are not recommended.
• Prescription eye drops: Eye drops are a newer option that may help some people with presbyopia. They work by decreasing the size of your pupils, which can lead to a clearer close-up vision.
• Surgery: Several surgical options may treat presbyopia. These include:
  • conductive keratoplasty
  • LASIK
  • refractive surgery
  • lens implants

Make an appointment with an eye doctor

An eye doctor can examine your eyes, diagnose presbyopia, determine how severe it is, and discuss treatment options with you. For instance, they might write you a prescription for reading glasses, eye drops, or both.

Tips for relieving eyestrain and improving your eye health

In addition to corrective treatments for presbyopia-related conditions, here are some tips that may help you relieve some of the symptoms associated with presbyopia, such as eyestrain and fatigue.

20-20-20 method for eyestrain

One commonly recommended tip for managing eyestrain is the 20-20-20 method. This method helps your eyes rest during close work, such as reading or computer use.

To do it, simply take a break every 20 minutes and look at a spot 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

Lifestyle tips for eye health

Here are some lifestyle tips that may help improve overall eye health:

• Increase the amounts of vitamins A, C, and E in your diet: These vitamins have proven eye health benefits. You can get more through the foods you eat, in supplements, or through a combination of both.
• Add omega-3 fatty acids to your diet: Omega-3 fatty acids are linked to improved eye health. They’re found in foods such as fish, nuts, and seeds. You can also buy supplements.
• Boost your zinc intake: A lack of zinc has been linked to reduced eye health. You can find zinc in foods like oysters, red meat, and poultry. It’s also available as a supplement.
• Wear sunglasses: Sunglasses block UV rays and can help prevent eyestrain.
• Quit smoking (if you smoke): Smoking is linked to multiple health risks, including an increased risk of presbyopia.
• Get enough rest: A lack of sleep is hard on your eye muscles and can cause eyestrain.

Frequently asked questions about presbyopia

Can presbyopia be corrected with exercises?

No. Presbyopia cannot be corrected with eye exercises. But treatments can correct your vision. Treatments include corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses, prescription eye drops, and surgery.

What are the best exercises for presbyopia?

Doing eye exercises will not fix presbyopia. However, you might be able to relieve some of the symptoms associated with presbyopia, such as eyestrain and fatigue, with the 20-20-20 method.

To try this method, simply take a break from doing close work (such as reading a book or looking at a computer or cellphone screen) every 20 minutes and look at a spot 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

How can I fix my presbyopia naturally?

There’s no cure — natural or otherwise — for presbyopia. However, treatments are available for correcting your vision.

How can I fix my presbyopia without glasses?

In addition to corrective reading glasses or contact lenses, surgical options are available to treat presbyopia. Surgical options include LASIK, refractory surgery, or lens implants.

You might also ask your doctor about prescription eye drops. Vuity (pilocarpine hydrochloride) is currently approved for presbyopia.

Over-the-counter brand-name artificial tears can also help reduce eye dryness, which can make reading uncomfortable.

Takeaway

Eye exercises cannot prevent presbyopia or slow its progression. However, treatments can help correct your vision, such as prescription reading glasses, contact lenses, and surgery.

You can also try lifestyle tips to help manage some of the associated symptoms of presbyopia, such as eyestrain and fatigue.

Steps such as quitting smoking, increasing vitamin intake, wearing sunglasses outside, and ensuring you’re getting enough sleep can also help promote eye health while reducing symptoms of presbyopia.