Certified Paraoptometric (CPO) Practice Exam 2026 – All-in-One Study Guide to Ensure Exam Success!

In presbyopia, the crystalline lens of the eye primarily loses its ability to change shape. This condition typically occurs with age and is characterized by a reduction in the flexibility of the lens, which is crucial for focusing on near objects. As the lens stiffens, it is less able to accommodate or change its curvature, making it difficult to see things up close clearly.

This change is a natural part of aging and affects nearly everyone to some degree, usually becoming noticeable starting in the early to mid-40s. While the lens does not become thicker, gain elasticity, or undergo scarring in this condition, the inability to accommodate is the defining feature of presbyopia.