A 20-year-old myopic patient reports difficulty with near vision while distance vision is excellent. What is this patient most likely experiencing?

The scenario describes a 20-year-old myopic patient who has good distance vision but struggles with near vision. This situation is commonly indicative of a condition called presbyopia, which typically begins to affect individuals in their mid-40s but can sometimes affect younger people, particularly myopes who have become accustomed to their distance correction.

Given the age of the patient and the fact that distance vision is excellent while near vision is compromised, the most likely reason for the near vision difficulty is related to overcorrection. If a myopic patient has been prescribed lenses that are too strong for their needs, it can lead to difficulties focusing on near objects because the lenses may inadvertently require them to exert extra effort, resulting in visual discomfort or blurry vision at close range.

This situation underscores the importance of ensuring that contact lens prescriptions are accurately determined and tailored to the patient’s specific needs, especially as it relates to the effective correction of both distance and near vision. Proper assessment and understanding of the patient’s visual requirements can help mitigate these issues.