Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors of Early-Onset Presbyopia in a Tertiary Hospital

Background: Premature presbyopia is increasingly observed in younger individuals, especially those exposed to excessive screen time, sunlight, and other lifestyle or systemic risk factors.Understanding its early onset is crucial for timely diagnosis and intervention.This study investigates the clinical profile and contributory factors of premature presbyopia in a hospital setting.Methods: It was a hospital-based prospective study carried out in Agartala Government Medical College and GBP Hospital, Agartala, Tripura, India from February 2023 to July 2023.Patients aged 32 years or more who presented with difficulties in near works, were included in the study.Premature presbyopics (30 to 40 years old) were further subjected to a questionnaire and detailed examination after obtaining informed consent. Results:The mean age of presentation of premature presbyopia was 36.47 years.Among the total number of patients presented with presbyopia, about 10.95% were premature presbyopics.Female sex, an occupation requiring near work, exposure to sunlight for a longer duration, using smartphones and associated hypermetropia were the most common risk factors.Multiparty, anaemia and premature menopause presented as important risk factors in females. Conclusion:When presbyopia first appears, a person's functional efficiency is decreased.Assessing risk factors will assist in identifying the population at risk for premature presbyopia, and close correction can be used to manage them promptly.