The mechanism of eye aging

For adults who have worked hard for many years, one of the things they eventually face is the aging of their eyes.
By understanding the symptoms and mechanisms, you can take a more positive approach and learn to live with presbyopia effectively.
We'll unravel the reasons why eyes age and provide you with information on how to care for them.

Decreased ability to adjust: Difficulty seeing things up close (presbyopia)

Decreased ability to adjust: Difficulty seeing things up close (presbyopia)

As we age, the lens of the eye hardens and loses its elasticity. As a result, the lens becomes less able to thicken with age, reducing its ability to focus and leading to presbyopia, or difficulty seeing things up close.
Typically, the distance needed for reading is about 30 cm.
This corresponds to the adjustment ability of people in their 40s and 50s. Therefore, reading at the same distance becomes difficult after the age of 50.

Decreased tear production

Decreased ability to adjust: Difficulty seeing things up close (presbyopia)

Tear production also decreases with age. This is due to a decline in the function of the tear glands, making the eyes more prone to dryness. As a result, even small amounts of debris that would normally be washed away by tears can adhere to the cornea, making it more susceptible to damage.
Furthermore, as we age, the tear drainage function (pump action) declines, and the tear ducts become narrower and more prone to blockage. This can lead to a contradictory decrease in tear production, where tears overflow even though the amount of tears secreted has decreased.

Decreased metabolism

Decreased metabolism

You may have heard the term "basal metabolism" in relation to dieting. Just like the body's metabolism, the eyes also have a metabolic function.
It is said that the metabolism of the eyes also decreases with age.
Reduced blood flow impairs the ability of tired eyes to recover, making it harder for tired eyes to go away and causing them to tire easily.

Presbyopia check

If two or more apply to you
It's almost time I'm starting to experience presbyopia.
There is a possibility

  • My eyesight deteriorates in the evening.
  • I have severe eye strain, stiff shoulders, and headaches.
  • I've started to naturally take off my glasses when eating or talking.
  • I've noticed that I often find myself holding newspapers and books at a distance while reading them without even realizing it.
  • When I'm working and looking at something close up, and then suddenly look at something far away, my vision gets blurry.

If two or more apply to you
Eye aging It's quite advanced.
There is a possibility

  • I can't read the newspaper in dim light.
  • Text input on mobile phones and smartphones has become significantly slower.
  • I find it difficult to read paperback books or small print up close.
  • When I take off my glasses, I can see the text more clearly.
  • The colors are no longer vibrant.

[Supervised by] Masayoshi Kajita, M.D., Director of Kajita Eye Clinic

Presbyopia symptoms can actually begin as early as the mid-30s for some people.
Many people begin to experience presbyopia symptoms more acutely around the age of 45.
It's sometimes called the turning point in one's eyes.
It's important to take good care of your eyes according to the progression of your own presbyopia.

How to cope with presbyopia

When presbyopia symptoms begin to appear

Decreased metabolism

When working on tasks that require close-up vision, take a break every 10 minutes to look at something slightly further away (2-3 meters) that is in focus for 1-2 seconds to stretch your eye muscles.

Instead of staring at things for extended periods, it's also effective to stand up, walk around, exercise periodically, and massage the muscles around your eyes (extraocular muscles).

POINT!

Gradually, difficulty seeing things up close, increased fatigue, and blurred vision are signs of a decline in the eye's focusing ability and its ability to recover from eye strain. When working on tasks that involve looking at small print, such as using a computer or reading, be mindful of moving the focusing muscles and extraocular muscles to reduce fatigue. Warming the eyes or stimulating acupressure points may also be effective.

If presbyopia is progressing

Decreased metabolism

First and foremost, it's important to get the correct eye correction that's right for your eyes. Even then, symptoms like fatigue and blurred vision can become more common with age. Caring for your eyes with eye drops that not only provide moisture but also support the restoration of focus adjustment, metabolic activity, and improved blood flow can be very effective.

Also, since you're getting tired more easily, it's important to avoid letting fatigue build up.

POINT!

A decline in eye function is something that can happen to anyone. It can start in your 30s, but many people experience discomfort in their 50s and 60s. It's important to learn to manage your presbyopia symptoms effectively. Symptoms such as eye strain and blurred vision that accompany presbyopia can be managed with eye drops. Let's manage presbyopia symptoms effectively by reviewing our lifestyle habits, aiming for proper correction and a lifestyle that doesn't strain the eyes, and by taking care of our eyes every day.