While presbyopia, or age-related near-sightendness, is often part of the aging process, leaving the condition untreated could lead to chronic headaches and even depression, a veteran oculist said.
Hsinchu Cathay General Hospital’s Department of Ophthalmology director Chen Ying-shan (陳瑩山) said a 65-year-old man sought outpatient services complaining about deteriorating vision that has caused him to have difficulty seeing objects up close and from far away.
“A visual acuity test found that the patient had 100 degrees of hyperopia and 400 degrees of presbyopia, coupled with minor cataracts. As he had previously had perfect eyesight, he attributed the blurred vision to age-related cataracts and dismissed other possibilities,” Chen said.
Chen said cataracts are only one of many factors that can cause blurred vision, with the primary cause being untreated presbyopia, which increases by an average of 10 degrees per year.
Refusal to wear presbyopic glasses would not help limit the development of presbyopia, nor do glasses cause more rapid deterioration of eyesight, Chen said.
“However, not wearing glasses is likely to lead to not only visual discomfort, but can also affect the brain,” he added.
Chen said the patient experienced pain around the eyes and the symptoms gradually induced depression and social isolation.
Citing a recent survey jointly conducted by the National Health Research Institutes and the Health Promotion Administration, Chen said that among 20 percent of respondents who described themselves as having poor vision, most of them were diagnosed with presbyopia.
“What is alarming is that 40 percent of people with degenerated eyesight also suffer from depression, which underscores the importance of vision correction,” he said.
Chen said that the eyes are considered a part of the nervous system and that research has discovered an influential relationship between the eyes and the brain.
“For instance, when the brain experiences psychological pressure, it can cause swelling and fluid accumulation in the macula — an oval-shaped pigmented area near the center of the eye’s light-sensitive tissue — leading to blurry vision. Such a condition is particularly common among perfectionist employees at the Hsinchu Science Park,” Chen said.
“Likewise, when a person’s vision degenerates due to presbyopia ... the macula can receive blurry images, which can lead to pain around the eyes. If the situation is left untreated, the brain can be affected, causing headaches and melancholia,” he said.
Chen said that young adults should refrain from excessive use of computers and tablet devices, as well as habitually staying up late, which he said could trigger the early onset of presbyopia.
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