What does presbyopia refer to?

Presbyopia refers specifically to the age-related condition characterized by the gradual loss of the eye's ability to focus on nearby objects. This condition occurs due to the natural aging process, which leads to a decrease in the elasticity of the lens of the eye. As the lens becomes stiffer, it makes it more challenging for the eye to change its shape to focus on close-up images, resulting in difficulty reading small print or seeing objects up close.

Unlike other visual impairments such as myopia (difficulty seeing distant objects), presbyopia exclusively impacts the ability to see near objects clearly, making the selected answer the correct interpretation of the condition. It typically begins to affect individuals in their 40s and progresses with age, requiring those affected to use reading glasses or contact lenses to correct their near vision.