Eye Health Resources

Presbyopia: Age-related farsightedness

If you’re around age 40, you may notice that it’s getting harder to read small print. This is called presbyopia, and it’s the most common change occurring in the adult eye.

Published on September 4, 2024

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4 minute read time

Why does eyesight get worse?

Inside your eye, behind the pupil and iris, sits the lens. The lens is a transparent disc that helps you see by focusing the light that comes into your eye. When you’re young, it’s very flexible, so the little muscles that control the shape of the lens can easily help you focus on things near and far. Gradually, the lenses inside your eyes stiffen, making changing the lens shape more difficult, affecting your close-range vision.

Normal close-range vision

As you switch from looking at something far away to something up close, the lens flexes to help you focus, directing the light to the retina.

Close range with presbyopia

When you have presbyopia, the lens cannot flex enough to focus the light properly on the retina when you’re doing things like reading.

At what age does eyesight start to deteriorate?

When we say gradually, we mean gradually. Surprisingly, this process may even begin as early as in childhood. Fortunately, it doesn’t become noticeable for most people until they’re in their 40s. Around that time is when you may begin to experience blurred vision when you do things like read a book, look at restaurant menus, or sew. The lens keeps getting stiffer until around the mid-60s, when the stiffness levels off.

Can presbyopia be prevented?

There’s no way to prevent presbyopia, at least not yet. One way to help reduce the strain on the muscles in your eye is to follow the 20-20-20 rule. When you’re reading or doing other near-work like using a computer, take a 20 second break every 20 minutes to look at something at least 20 feet away.

How to correct age-related vision loss

Many eye doctors say that people don’t come to visit them until their arms become “too short” to be able to read clearly. You don’t have to wait that long to see an eye doctor if your vision is changing. They can diagnose the issue and help you come up with a treatment plan. Today, there are more options for treating presbyopia now than there ever have been. Those options include: 

Spectacles 
Contact lenses 
Refractive Surgery 
Eye drops

More About Treatment Options

Why choose ACUVUE for presbyopia?

Clear vision near and far

Seamlessly go from reading close up to seeing far away, even on the move.

Optimized for your pupils

Pupil size changes with age. We account for that to provide clear, crisp vision.

Designed for all-day comfort

ACUVUE contact lenses are moisture-infused to help prevent dry, itchy eyes.

UV protection^#

UV blocking^# is standard across our entire line of contact lenses.

Get started with ACUVUE contact lenses

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Provide some basic information and get a certificate for a free^* trial pair

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between bifocal and multifocal contact lenses?

Bifocal lenses have two zones correcting distance vision and near vision. Multifocal lenses use more than two zones in a single lens to provide seamless transitions between distant, intermediate, and near vision. Talk to your eye doctor to determine if either might be right for you.

What are multifocal contact lenses?

Multifocal contact lenses are lenses with multiple powers incorporated into the design to help enable distance, near, and in-between vision. They’re typically prescribed for people with presbyopia, the vision change that happens to everyone as they age, making it harder to read things up close.

How to improve eyesight?

What many people think of as improving their eyesight is actually vision correction. There's no proven way to make your vision better without vision correction like eyeglasses, contact lenses, or LASIK. Most tips on how to improve eye health or prevent vision loss are also steps you can take to improve your overall health. Getting an annual eye exams is also a good proactive step, as your eye doctor can help you make an eye health plan.

Are there reading contact lenses? How do they work?

There aren't contacts specifically made for reading, however, multifocal contacts can be good for reading if you have presbyopia. Multifocal contact lenses correct both near and distance vision in the same prescription lens and reduce the need for contact lens wearers to carry reading glasses.

How much do prescription contacts cost?

How much prescription contacts cost depends on several factors such as the type of lenses, wear duration (daily disposable contacts, bi-weekly lenses and monthly contacts) and correction type (astigmatism and multifocal lenses). The cost of ACUVUE^® daily disposable contacts can have an average cost range from $642.40 to $1700.90 annually. ACUVUE bi-weekly contacts can be disposed of after 2 weeks and have an average cost around $321.20 to $496.40 annually, and ACUVUE monthly contact lenses can cost anywhere from $248.20 to $321.20 annually on average. You can also sign up for the MyACUVUE^® reward program to get exciting rewards and exclusive benefits on your purchase.

How can I get used to contact lenses?

Getting used to contact lenses can take a little time. Here are some helpful tips for adjusting to contacts:

Practice putting on and taking off your contact lenses. This is a common learning curve that beginner contact lens wearers experience.
Clean your contact lenses—dirty contact lenses can cause eye irritation and other potential eye health issues.
Contact your eye doctor if you're experiencing discomfort. They may need to adjust to a different fit.

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Footnotes

Consult your eye care professional for more information. J&J does not provide medical advice; this information is for educational purposes only.

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WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long-term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.

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Important Information For Contact Lens Wearers: ACUVUE Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, remove the lens and contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional and ask for a Patient Instruction Guide, call 1-800-843-2020, or download the Patient Instruction Guides.

2024PP15147

Presbyopia: Age-related farsightedness