Presbyopia
By Kayli Nichols PSY 441
Overview
Presbyopia is a natural decrease in sight ability. With presbyopia, "the distance of the near point increases as a person gets older" (Goldstein, 2014). Anyone that is 35 years of age or over is at risk of developing Presbyopia. Although everyone is at risk of losing some of their sight ability as they age, some will have more loss than others.
How vision is processed
Presbyopia occurs when information enters the light is then refracted in a way that it lands behind the retina. This is what causes the information to become blurred. In order for information to be clear, the light must hit the retina directly on. When light hits in front of or behind the retina, this results in blurry information that is then sent to the brain via the optic nerve.
The Gestalt Approach
According to the Gestalt approach, we tend to perceive information in the simplest of forms. Therefore, this means that we will take a complex visual object, and fill in the necessary information in order to make it easier to understand. We simplify information in order to better perceive what we are seeing. This makes things less complicated so we can greater understand what we are seeing. We do this by re-organizing information to simplify what we are seeing.
How Vision is Affected by Presbyopia
For those who suffer from Presbyopia, the vision begins to get blurry while reading objects up close. These are situations that the individual used to be able to read with ease. This occurs due to the hardening of the lens as the body ages. The ciliary muscles also begin to weaken which makes it harder for the lens to change shape to accommodate the vision at a closer range.
Treatment Options
Currently there are no treatment options for Presbyopia. The only available options would be to receive access to corrective lenses, contact lenses, over the counter "readers," or even surgery to correct the lens.
Presbyopia Vs. Normal Vision
As we see in normal vision, the light enters the eye via the lens and hits the retina dead on allowing for more focused and clear cut vision. In contrast, an eye that is suffering from Presbyopia shows light entering the lens and hitting behind the retina, causing a blur in vision.
Presbyopia Focal Point
The distance vision point where light hits behind the retina is known as the Near Vision Focal Point.
Presbyopia Treated
In order to accurately correct Presbyopia, a corrective lens must be placed upon or within the eye, in order to change the shape of the eye. This allows the light to enter through a correctly shaped lens.
Signs and Symptoms
- Hard time reading small print
- Having to hold reading material farther than arm’s distance
- Problems seeing objects that are close to you
- Headaches
- Eyestrain
(National Eye Institute, 2010)
References
Goldstein, B. (2014). Sensation and Perception Ninth
Edition. Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
National Eye Institute (2010). Retrieved from https://nei.nih.gov/health/errors/presbyopia