Eyes Over 40: Baby Boomers, Presbyopia
& Vision Changes

If you are among the 78 million Baby Boomers in the United States (born between 1946 and 1964), you've probably noticed your eyes have changed. Most notably, presbyopia — the normal, age-related loss of near focusing ability — usually becomes a problem in our 40s, requiring new vision correction solutions. Learn about measures you can take to keep seeing clearly for years to come.

What Is Presbyopia?
Some call presbyopia "short arm syndrome," because of how far you have to stretch to see the fine print in your newspaper. Learn why no one over 40 escapes this annoying vision problem.

Bifocal and Trifocal Options
If you need help seeing up close and in the intermediate distance, you'll find many new bifocal and multifocal lens options, no matter what your work and leisure activities are.

Dry Eye After Menopause
Women are much more likely than men to develop dry eye because of hormonal changes associated with menopause. What can you do if you are older and develop dry eye?

Multifocal Contact Lenses
Offering the convenience of contact lenses as well as the ability to see close up and far away, multifocal and bifocal contacts help active Baby Boomers adjust to any situation without eyeglasses.

SPONSORED SECTION: AcrySOF IQ Cataract Lens
A cataract lens for better image quality, increased contrast sensitivity and improved functional vision.

SPONSORED SECTION: AcrySOF Toric Cataract Lens
Now it's possible to correct the cataracts clouding your vision — and the astigmatism distorting your vision — all at once.

Night Vision and Driving: How Safe Are Older Motorists?
Older drivers often develop vision problems such as cataracts that can hamper their ability to see at night.

What Older Drivers Can Do To Improve Night Vision and Highway Safety
If you are an older driver, learn what you can do to avoid placing yourself and others at risk.

Occupational Bifocals and Trifocals
People who perform certain tasks at home or at work may need special-purpose multifocal lenses. One example is a bifocal lens with a near-focus segment in the top half, for a mechanic who needs to look up a lot. By improving your eyes' focusing power, these special lenses can reduce eyestrain and fatigue.

SPONSORED SECTION: AcrySOF IOL Quiz
Learn about the best intraocular lens options for you after cataract surgery with this quiz.

How Progressive Lenses Work
No lines! But progressive lenses have more going for them than just good looks. They let you see at all distances, from far away to up close, without the irritation of transitional lines. The right progressive lenses can help your eyes focus the way they would if you didn't need vision correction at all.

Reading glasses work well with contacts.

Reading Glasses
If you're over 40 and beginning to experience blurry vision at near, reading glasses can be a quick fix. And they work great as an adjunct to distance vision-correcting contact lenses. Read about the pros and cons of drugstore readers, and find out what your best options are.

SPONSORED SECTION: The iLASIK Procedure
Learn about this advanced laser vision correction procedure for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

Surgery for Presbyopia
Is presbyopia surgery right for you? Find out how it works and what your options are.

NEW! Combining Options for Presbyopia
If you find that no one solution seems to work for presbyopia, try combining different options.

[Page updated January 2008]