What eye condition occurs due to hardening of the lens over time?

Presbyopia is an eye condition that occurs when the lens of the eye becomes less flexible with age. This hardening of the lens makes it difficult to focus on nearby objects, which is a common issue experienced by individuals as they reach their 40s or 50s. Unlike myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness), which are primarily related to the shape of the eye or lens, presbyopia specifically refers to the loss of the eye's ability to change focus due to the hardening of the lens itself.

In contrast, while astigmatism involves an irregular shape of the cornea or lens that causes blurred vision, it is not related to the hardening of the lens. Understanding presbyopia is important not only in recognizing the normal aging process of the eye but also in providing appropriate corrective measures, such as reading glasses or multifocal lenses, to manage the condition effectively.