Many Baby Boomers Don’t Understand Most Common Midlife Vision Problem (NAPSA)—While many people are aware of and concerned about their heart health, and a variety of cancers that become more prevalent with age, many adults do not often consider how their vision will be affected. For instance, many boomers do not understand that a condition known as presbyopia will inevitably affect each and every one of them to the point of being forced to wear reading glasses to see things that used to be crystal clear. According to a Harris Interactive survey recently conducted by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 79 percent of the general population is not atall knowledgeable about presbyopia, and 56 percent of patients who have had corrective surgery for presbyopia do not even know what the condition is. Clearly, it is time to bring this treatable condition to the forefront of people’s minds. Presbyopia, an age-related change that is marked by a hardening of the eye’s lens as our eyes age, is the very condition that causes people to hold their menus farther and farther away from their faces every time they go toa restaurant. In addition to having to hold reading materials at arm’s length, other symptoms of presbyopia include headaches or “tired eyes” while reading or doing other close work, temporary blurred vision for distant objects after reading or doing close work, and difficulty focusing on near objects such as reading material, books, etc. ~ \ It would be forward looking of people in the 45-plus age group to understand presbyopia. Although this misunderstood eye condition affects nearly all adults by the time they are between the ages of 45 and 65, doctors are giving patients good news about the many treatment options that are available to not only treat the condition, but also improve overall quality of life. Treatment options range from wearing reading glasses to undergoing vision correction surgery, but no matter how patients decide to treat their vision problems, studies show that those whoproactively talk to their doctor are happier overall. In fact, most patients who have undergone vision correction surgery would recommend the procedure to a friend, and a majority of people said it hasliterally changed their life. Benefits of surgery were numerous, including improved vision, not having to wear glasses and being more selfconfident. For additional information, visit www.readclearlyagain.com.
