Why do older people who do not wear glasses read books farther away from their eyes than younger people do?

The muscles that contract the eye ball to make it focus at a small reading distance weaken as we grow older so we hold the reading material further away because we can focus at distances further away (that is, the muscles don't need to contract the eye ball as much at a greater distance.)

Older people who do not wear glasses may read books farther away from their eyes than younger people due to a condition called presbyopia. Presbyopia is a natural age-related eye condition that affects the ability to focus on near objects. It occurs when the lens of the eye become less flexible, making it more difficult to adjust and focus on close-up objects like books.

To understand why this happens, let's start with the anatomy of the eye. The lens, located behind the colored part of the eye (iris), helps to focus light onto the retina at the back of the eye. In younger people, the lens is elastic and can easily change shape to adjust the focus from near to far distances, allowing for clear vision. However, as people age, the lens gradually loses some of its flexibility, making it harder to focus on close objects.

When older people with presbyopia try to read a book held at a normal distance, the lens struggles to adjust and bring the text into sharp focus. As a result, they may instinctively hold the book farther away from their eyes to compensate for the reduced focusing ability. By increasing the distance, the light entering the eye is more divergent and helps to bring the text into clearer focus.

It's worth noting that presbyopia affects almost everyone to some extent as they get older, usually starting around the age of 40. If people already wear glasses for other vision problems, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, they may need to use multifocal or reading glasses to address presbyopia as well.

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulty with close-up vision, it is recommended to have an eye examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. They can provide a proper diagnosis and prescribe the most suitable corrective measures, such as reading glasses or bifocals, to make reading and other near tasks more comfortable and clear.

Older people who do not wear glasses may tend to hold books farther away from their eyes than younger people due to a condition called presbyopia. Presbyopia is an age-related condition that affects the flexibility of the lens in the eye, making it harder to focus on close objects such as books or small print.

As people age, the lens of the eye becomes less elastic and loses its ability to change shape, which is necessary for focusing on objects at varying distances. This means that as the print or the object is brought closer to the eyes, it becomes increasingly difficult for the lens to adjust and focus properly.

To compensate for the decreased ability to focus up close, older people may naturally hold books or reading materials farther away from their eyes. By increasing the distance between their eyes and the text, they reduce the strain on the eye lens and achieve a clearer focus.

Furthermore, holding the book farther away provides a larger field of view, improving overall comfort and reducing eye fatigue. However, it's important to note that this behavior may vary from person to person, and some older individuals may prefer to wear reading glasses to counteract presbyopia and read at a closer distance.