Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

What condition is characterized by the natural loss of accommodation due to aging?

1. Myopia

2. Cataracts

3. Presbyopia

4. Glaucoma

The correct answer is: Presbyopia

The condition characterized by the natural loss of accommodation due to aging is presbyopia. As individuals age, the elasticity of the lens in the eye diminishes, causing a decreased ability to focus on close objects. This reduction in accommodation is a normal part of the aging process and typically becomes noticeable in people during their early to mid-40s. Presbyopia leads to difficulties with tasks such as reading or other close-up work, and it often necessitates the use of reading glasses or other corrective lenses. The other conditions mentioned in the choices are related to different types of vision problems but do not specifically pertain to the mechanism of accommodation loss linked to aging. Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, involves difficulty seeing distant objects clearly but is not directly related to age-related accommodation changes. Cataracts develop when the lens becomes cloudy, leading to blurred vision but are not solely tied to the loss of accommodation. Glaucoma involves increased intraocular pressure and can lead to optic nerve damage, affecting peripheral vision rather than the ability to accommodate. Thus, presbyopia stands out as the condition directly associated with aging and the accompanying decrease in the eye's ability to accommodate vision.