Certified Paraoptometric (CPO) Practice Exam

Presbyopia is best described as an age-related decrease in the ability to focus on close objects. This condition typically becomes noticeable in individuals around the age of 40 and progresses over time. It is caused by the natural stiffening of the lens in the eye, which reduces its flexibility. As a result, the eye has more difficulty adjusting focus from distant to nearby objects, making tasks like reading or sewing harder without the aid of reading glasses or other vision correction.

Understanding presbyopia is essential for addressing the vision needs of aging populations and providing appropriate visual aids. This condition is distinct from other types of refractive errors, such as myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness), which are related to the shape of the eye rather than the aging process of the lens. It also does not pertain to peripheral vision issues or diseases that lead to blindness, highlighting the importance of accurate definitions in optometry and healthcare.