What condition results from the loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens, making near vision difficult?

The condition that results from the loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens, making near vision difficult, is presbyopia. As people age, the lens of the eye becomes less flexible, reducing its ability to change shape for focusing on close objects. This process generally begins in the early to mid-40s and progresses with age, leading to difficulties in tasks such as reading or working on small details, which require focus on nearby objects.

In presbyopia, the reduced accommodative ability of the eye lens means that individuals may need reading glasses or bifocals to see clearly at close distances. This is a natural part of aging and is distinct from other refractive errors like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism, which are primarily caused by the shape of the eyeball or the curvature of the cornea rather than a loss of lens flexibility.