Contact Lens Choices for Baby Boomer Athletes.

• Position: Brief Article

Active baby boomers, many of whom are shifting from team sports to individual sports, often have vision demands that may differ from their everyday activities. "Statistically, the baby boomer generation is becoming presbyopic in greater numbers than any other population. In other words, people who have never worn glasses before suddenly find themselves contemplating the choices. This is an active population with significant disposable income, so many boomers can afford multiple options," indicates Charlotte A. Tlachac, associate clinical professor at the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry and former chair of the American Optometric Association's Contact Lens Section.

Presbyopia is a condition in which the crystalline lens of the eye loses its flexibility. "The result is progressive difficulty in focusing on close objects. Presbyopia is not preventable; it's simply part of the aging process. For many `graying' athletes, this can be an adjustment process," she notes.

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