An old man cannot read a book held close but can see distant scenes clearly. The defect and its cure are:

1. Inability to see NEAR objects = hypermetropia (or its variant in old age, presbyopia). 2. The eye lens has lost flexibility and the near point recedes. 3. CONVEX lens of suitable focal length brings near objects into focus on the retina. 4. If BOTH near and far vision are affected, bifocal lenses are prescribed. _Source: NCERT Class 10 Science Ch 10 §10.2 Hypermetropia_