What is the approximate age-based ADD power for a 50-year-old?

• A. +0.50
• B. +1.50
• C. +2.50
• D. +3.50

Answer: (B)

As people age, the ability to accommodate declines, so the near addition (ADD) you’d use increases with age. A common NBEO-style quick estimate is that ADD grows by about 0.15 diopters for each year after age 40. For a 50-year-old, that’s 10 years beyond 40, giving about +1.50 D of ADD. This is a handy approximation used for testing to reflect the typical rise in near needs with age. In practice, the exact add is tailored to the patient’s near work distance and remaining accommodation, but +1.50 D is a reasonable estimate at age 50.