Is there a connection between presbyopia and cataracts?

In daily life, we often hear middle-aged and elderly people around us complain that it is becoming increasingly difficult to see things. Some say that small words are blurry when they see them close up, and some say that everything they see seems to be covered by a veil. Some of these situations may be caused by presbyopia, while others may be caused by cataracts. But are presbyopia and cataracts related?

Presbyopia: The “natural aging” of the eyes

Presbyopia, medically known as old eyesight, is a physiological phenomenon that occurs with age. Under normal circumstances, there is a lens in our eyes that is like a camera lens. It is elastic and can automatically adjust its shape according to the needs of seeing far and near. However, with age, the lens gradually hardens, its elasticity decreases, and the ciliary muscle's ability to adjust also weakens. It is like a camera lens that ages and cannot be flexibly zoomed. At this time, when the eyes look at nearby objects, it is difficult to focus accurately on the retina, causing the text and objects that are close to look at to become blurred, and the objects need to be held farther away to be seen clearly. Generally speaking, people may begin to experience symptoms of presbyopia when they are around 40 years old, and the degree of presbyopia will gradually increase with age.

Cataract: The lens changes from clear to cloudy

Cataract is an eye disease in which the lens becomes cloudy. The lens is originally like a piece of clear and transparent glass, through which light can pass without hindrance, forming a clear image on the retina. However, when various factors affect the metabolism of the lens, the protein in the lens will denature and gradually become cloudy, just like a thick layer of dirt on the glass, making it difficult for light to pass through normally, resulting in decreased vision.

Hua Xia, director of Tianjin University Aier Eye Hospital, said that there are many causes of cataracts, and aging is a common factor. In addition, long-term ultraviolet radiation, eye trauma, certain systemic diseases (such as diabetes) and long-term use of certain drugs may increase the risk of cataracts. The vision loss of cataract patients is gradual. In the early stage, they may just feel blurred vision, which has little impact on their daily life. However, as the disease progresses, vision will become worse and worse, and in severe cases, they may even become blind.

The connection between the two: similarities and differences under the bond of age

Age correlation: Both presbyopia and cataracts are closely related to age. After middle age, all organs of the body begin to age, and the eyes are no exception. The aging of the lens plays a key role in the occurrence and development of presbyopia and cataracts. With age, the elasticity of the lens decreases, causing presbyopia. On the other hand, it may become cloudy due to metabolic abnormalities, leading to cataracts. Therefore, presbyopia and cataracts often occur at the same time in the middle-aged and elderly population.

Differences in symptoms: Although both conditions cause decreased vision, their characteristics are different. Presbyopia mainly causes difficulty in seeing close up, but relatively clear vision at a distance, and wearing reading glasses can effectively improve vision. Cataracts, on the other hand, cause all-round vision loss, and vision becomes blurry whether you are looking far or near, and reading glasses cannot improve this. In addition, cataract patients may also experience symptoms such as double vision, glare, and changes in color vision, which are not usually seen in simple presbyopia.

Mutual influence: When a person has both presbyopia and cataracts, the situation becomes more complicated. The cloudy lens of the cataract may change the refractive state of the eye, causing the original presbyopia to change. For example, a patient who originally wore suitable reading glasses may find that the glasses are not suitable for close-up. At the same time, the decreased vision caused by cataracts may mask the symptoms of presbyopia, resulting in the patient's lack of awareness of presbyopia.

Although presbyopia and cataracts are related, they are essentially different eye problems. Understanding their relationship can help middle-aged and elderly people better understand their own eye conditions, detect problems in time and seek professional treatment, and protect their vision health.