An older adult who cannot see nearby objects most likely has which condition?

• A. Presbyopia
• B. Hyperopia
• C. Myopia
• D. Astigmatism

Answer: (A)

Difficulty focusing on close objects due to aging. This is presbyopia, a natural decline in the eye’s ability to accommodate as the lens and its supporting muscles lose elasticity. As people get older, the lens doesn’t curve as easily, so near tasks like reading small print become blurry or require holding things farther away. That’s why an older adult often reports trouble seeing nearby objects while distance vision may remain relatively better. While hyperopia can also blur near vision, it’s not specifically an age-related change and many people don’t notice it until later, and myopia and astigmatism affect vision differently across distances. Correction typically includes reading glasses or multifocal lenses to restore clear near vision.