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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Age is the greatest risk factor for presbyopia. Almost everyone experiences it after age 40.

Premature presbyopia
However, some people can develop presbyopia earlier than age 40 as a result of certain diseases or certain drugs. Premature presbyopia can be an indicator that you have a systemic disease you may not be aware of. Risk factors for premature presbyopia include:

  • Systemic diseases. Certain diseases, such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and cardiovascular diseases, can increase your risk of premature presbyopia.
  • Drugs. Certain prescription and nonprescription drugs can affect the flexibility of your lens. They include antidepressants, antihistamines, diuretics and alcohol.
References
  1. Optometric clinical practice guideline: Care of the patient with presbyopia. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/documents/CPG-17.pdf. Accessed March 11, 2009.
  2. Eye exams. Eye care America: The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://www.eyecareamerica.org/eyecare/treatment/eye-exams.cfm. Accessed March 11, 2009.
  3. Adult vision: 41 to 60 years of age. American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/x9453.xml. Accessed March 11, 2009.
  4. Learning about LASIK. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/lasik. Accessed March 11, 2009
  5. Pepose, J. Maximizing satisfaction with presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses: The missing links. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2008;146:641.
  6. Questions and answers about refractive errors. National Eye Institute. http://www.nei.nih.gov/CanWeSee/qa_refractive.asp. Accessed March 11, 2009.

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May 8, 2009

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