Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

What is presbyopia?

1. Vision becomes more focused.

2. Eye muscle fibers become soft.

3. Eye loses elasticity in the lens.

4. Eye gains elasticity in the lens.

The correct answer is: Eye loses elasticity in the lens.

Presbyopia is a common age-related condition that affects the ability to focus on close objects, and it is primarily caused by the loss of elasticity in the lens of the eye. As individuals age, the lens, which is responsible for adjusting focus for near and far vision, becomes less flexible. This loss of elasticity hinders the lens's ability to change shape and adjust for near vision, resulting in difficulty reading small print or performing tasks that require close focus. The options related to vision becoming more focused, eye muscle fibers becoming soft, and gaining elasticity contradict the physiological changes that occur in the eye with aging. While eye muscle fibers do undergo changes, the primary factor in presbyopia is the decreased elasticity of the lens itself. Therefore, recognizing that the lens loses its ability to accommodate is key to understanding presbyopia and its impact on vision.