Presbyopia
Cataract
Age-related changes in the lens include the development of cataracts, a condition where the lens becomes cloudy, leading to blurry vision. Additionally, the lens can become less flexible with age, resulting in presbyopia, a condition where it becomes harder to focus on close objects. These changes are natural parts of aging and can be managed with treatments like cataract surgery or prescription glasses.
The lens is normally transparent, elliptical in shape, and somewhat elastic.
The lens of the eye thickens when the ciliary muscles contract. This change in thickness allows the eye to focus on objects up close by increasing the refractive power of the lens. This process is known as accommodation.
Cataracts
Presbyopia. It is a common age-related condition where the lens of the eye becomes less flexible, making it harder to focus on close objects. This typically occurs around middle age.
The condition is called presbyopia. It is a natural part of aging where the lens of the eye becomes less flexible, making it harder to focus on close objects. This typically occurs around age 40.
When a lens loses its elasticity with age, it becomes less able to change shape and refract light properly. This can result in a condition known as presbyopia, where it becomes difficult to focus on close objects. In some cases, this can be corrected with reading glasses or contact lenses.
The lens of the eye thickens or thins to focus incoming light. When focusing on nearby objects, the ciliary muscles contract, causing the lens to become thicker and more curved, which increases its refractive power. Conversely, when focusing on distant objects, the muscles relax, allowing the lens to thin and flatten, reducing its curvature. This adjustment enables clear vision at varying distances.
The flexibility of the lens decreases as you get older, leading to difficulty in focusing on close objects, a condition known as presbyopia. This is a natural part of the aging process and usually becomes noticeable around the age of 40.
When an object is close to your eye, the lens becomes thicker. This is because the ciliary muscles surrounding the lens contract, allowing the lens to change its shape and increase its refractive power to focus on nearby objects.
The crystalline lens becomes cloudy and opaque, resulting in a cataract.