That's how most of us first recognize a condition that eye care professionals call presbyopia, a name derived from Greek words meaning "old eye."  Eye fatigue or headaches when doing close work, such as sewing, knitting or painting, are also common symptoms.  Because it is associated with aging, presbyopia is often met with a groan -- and the realization that reading glasses or bifocals are inevitable.

What causes presbyopia?

As we age, body tissues normally lose their elasticity.  As skin ages, it becomes less elastic and we develop wrinkles.  Similarly, as the lenses in our eyes lose some of their elasticity, they lose some of their ability to change focus for different distances.  The loss is gradual.  Long before we become aware that seeing close up is becoming more difficult, the lenses in our eyes have begun losing their ability to flatten and thicken.  Only when the loss of elasticity impairs our vision to a noticeable degree do we recognize the change.