Which condition, typically appearing after age 35, results in the gradual loss of accommodation?

The condition that leads to the gradual loss of accommodation, typically after age 35, is presbyopia. As people age, the lens of the eye becomes less flexible, which inhibits the ability to focus on close objects. This reduced flexibility primarily affects the eye's accommodation system, making it more difficult to adjust focus from distant to near objects.

Presbyopia is a natural part of the aging process and is usually first noted in individuals in their mid-40s, but the initial signs can start manifesting earlier, around age 35. Unlike cataracts, which involve clouding of the lens and can affect vision in various ways, presbyopia specifically relates to the lens's loss of elasticity and the ability to change shape for focusing. Myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness) are refractive errors that are not directly linked to age-related changes in accommodation, although they can also manifest in individuals at various ages. Thus, the correct answer focuses on the specific age-related condition that primarily concerns loss of accommodation functionality.