Which condition is associated with aging and involves hardening of the lens leading to loss of elasticity?

Which condition is associated with aging and involves hardening of the lens leading to loss of elasticity?

• A. Myopia
• B. Hyperopia
• C. Presbyopia
• D. Astigmatism

Answer: (C)

Presbyopia is the age-related loss of accommodation due to the lens hardening and losing its elasticity. As the lens becomes stiffer, it can’t thicken enough to focus on close objects, so near vision becomes blurry and reading may require glasses or a closer hold of reading material. This is different from myopia, where distant objects are blurred because the eye focuses light in front of the retina; hyperopia, where near objects are blurry because the eye’s focal point is behind the retina; and astigmatism, which is caused by an irregular corneal or lens shape leading to distorted vision at all distances. The key idea is that aging changes the lens itself, reducing its ability to change shape for near focus.

Presbyopia is the age-related loss of accommodation due to the lens hardening and losing its elasticity. As the lens becomes stiffer, it can’t thicken enough to focus on close objects, so near vision becomes blurry and reading may require glasses or a closer hold of reading material. This is different from myopia, where distant objects are blurred because the eye focuses light in front of the retina; hyperopia, where near objects are blurry because the eye’s focal point is behind the retina; and astigmatism, which is caused by an irregular corneal or lens shape leading to distorted vision at all distances. The key idea is that aging changes the lens itself, reducing its ability to change shape for near focus.