One day, you might suddenly realize that the text in your book is hard to read or that your smartphone screen looks blurry. That’s often when people recognize the onset of presbyopia.
Presbyopia is a natural consequence of aging, commonly around one’s 40s. However, due to the frequent use of digital devices such as smartphones and tablets, people are experiencing presbyopia at younger ages than before.
The eye’s ability to shift focus between near and far objects is called accommodation. When looking at something close, the lens thickens; when focusing on a distant object, it returns to its original state. Younger people have more flexible lenses, resulting in stronger accommodation, but lens flexibility starts to decline in the 20s and drops rapidly in the 40s and 50s, causing vision to deteriorate.
Seven Out of Ten People Over 60 Have Cataracts: Manage Diabetes and Hypertension, and Avoid Smoking
What may seem like a simple decline in vision could actually indicate something else. Unlike presbyopia, there’s a condition where vision becomes cloudy and unclear—cataracts. Cataracts occur because of reduced flexibility and clouding of the lens, which interferes with light passing through the eye.
In South Korea, about 70 percent of people over age 60 have cataracts, making it highly prevalent. While aging is the primary cause, other factors include diabetes, trauma, steroid medication use, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
Dr Hyun Jun Young of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital’s Department of Ophthalmology noted that even relatively young individuals increasingly report cataract symptoms. This is attributed to lens aging caused by prolonged screen exposure and eye strain. He emphasized the importance of managing eye health through regular ophthalmic checkups.
Cataract symptoms vary depending on the location and degree of lens clouding. When only part of the lens becomes cloudy, a person may experience monocular double vision—seeing two overlapping images with one eye.
As the central portion of the lens hardens, its refractive index increases, making nearby objects appear clearer. In some cases, people with presbyopia suddenly can read close text or screens more easily.
The most common treatment is intraocular lens implantation surgery, in which the clouded lens is removed and replaced with an artificial one. Thanks to ultrasound technology, the procedure can now be performed using micro-incisions as small as 2 mm, allowing for a quicker recovery. Additionally, the development of multifocal lenses that minimize light glare has helped improve patient comfort.
If symptoms are mild and the risk of complications is low, surgery may be postponed in favor of lifestyle changes and medication to slow progression. However, delaying surgery too long may make micro-incision procedures unfeasible, so regular consultations are essential.
Hyun emphasized the importance of maintaining healthy eye habits. He advised adults over 40 to undergo regular eye exams and to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
He also stressed that smoking, which worsens eye health, must be avoided. Keeping indoor lighting bright and consulting professionals when using contact lenses were also recommended for preserving vision.