Why does eye power suddenly start increasing after the age of 40? Know how we can avoid this?

Are you 40 years old and suddenly you start facing difficulty in watching mobile screen, reading newspaper or threading a needle? If yes, then you are not alone. Sudden increase in the power of glasses at this stage of age is a very common problem. According to the eye surgeon (ophthalmologist), this change in eyesight after the age of 40 is called ‘presbyopia’ in medical language. Let us understand in detail why this happens and what are the solutions to avoid it.

Why does eyesight improve after 40?

According to eye care experts at WebMD and Mayo Clinic, our eyes have a natural and flexible lens. This lens helps in focusing on distant and nearby objects by changing its shape. Know the reasons for this.

• Stiffness of the lens: As we age, the flexibility of the lens of the eye gradually decreases and it becomes stiff.
• Weakening of muscles: The muscles around the lens (ciliary muscles), which work to contract and dilate it, begin to weaken with age.
• Difficulty in Focusing: Due to this low flexibility, the lens is unable to focus properly on nearby objects. The result is that nearby objects appear blurred and the person needs ‘reading glasses’ or spectacles with plus (+) power.

What are the initial symptoms of presbyopia?

• If you are around 40, you should pay attention to these symptoms:
• Moving the book away from your eyes while reading. Difficulty reading or doing fine work in low light.
• Headache or heaviness in the eyes after doing fine work. Constant tiredness and blurred vision.

Easy ways to protect and take care of your eyes

Although presbyopia is a natural process of aging that cannot be completely stopped, but according to eye experts, you can keep your eyes healthy for a long time by adopting some simple habits:

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: If you do most of your work on a computer or laptop, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. This provides relief to the eye muscles.
• Eat a diet rich in antioxidants: Include green leafy vegetables, carrots, pumpkin, citrus fruits (vitamin C), nuts and fish (omega-3 fatty acids) in your diet. It protects the eye lens from aging.
• Regular Eye Checkup: After the age of 40, you should get your eyes checked at least once a year. Due to this, diseases like cataract or glaucoma are detected in time.
• Wear sunglasses with UV protection: When going out in the sun, always wear good quality sunglasses that block harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Eye exercises and adequate sleep are important: Do light eye movement exercises and get 7-8 hours of deep sleep daily so that the eye muscles have time to recover.

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