New contact lenses but can't read - should I persevere?

[Champagneforeveryone]

I've worn contacts for years and always got on extremely well with them. Had a check up about 3 weeks ago and my prescription had changed quite a lot (from -4.75 to -6)

I've been struggling with the new lenses for about 10 days now. My vision is great and super sharp, but I cannot read a thing close up. Without my contacts or using my old prescription I can see perfectly, there's actually nothing wrong with my close up vision at all. The issue is only when wearing the new lenses.

Is this something that perseverance is likely to correct? I have a follow up with the optician next week because of this, but the lady on the phone tried to tell me it was probably an age thing

That is a huge jump in prescription. How long since your last test? I’m a glasses wearer and prefer to take my glasses off to read as it feels more comfortable on my eyes ( minus 5 prescription).
Hopefully someone comes along with proper advice. Do you have back up glasses in the new script?

Sounds like you need varifocals if you can see fine but can’t read with them in. Have you tried testing cheap reading glasses with your contacts in?

I'd go back to the optician. They will be able to help. Not sure of your age, but as your age and typically in your mid-late 40s, your accommodation changes and it becomes harder to read things close up. You can either get glasses to correct this, or if you wear contacts, they can tweak your lenses prescription so they are slightly less strong for distance but so that you can read....a compromise!

I had mono vision for a long time with my lenses. Basically one for reading and one for distance. It sounds awful, but it's surprising what your brain can deal with.

how old are you? Once middle aged presbyopia sets in this is exactly what will happen.The strengthening of the distance prescription will exacerbate the effect.

there are multifocal contact lenses, but the simplest solution is a couple of pairs of Poundland readers over the top of the lenses. They are scattered all over this house; I have different ones for computer use and reading when I have my lenses in.

PITA but that's ageing for you.

I’m -5 and I’m finding that my close up reading with my lenses is pretty poor cos I’m old.
I have a pair of cheap reading glasses I use when I’ve got my contacts in. I was due to go back to talk about varifocal ones but covid hit so I didn’t get there. Reading glasses are cheap as chips, I bought 3 for £10.
You probably notice or more as that’s a huge jump in prescription.

This is something that happens as you get older. My distance prescription is actually improving as I get older and I can see close up without glasses but it's the transition between the two, something to do with the way the muscles weaken.

I've had to wear reading glasses with my contacts since I was c. 48 although i don't need them without the contacts.

Hi yes unfortunately with the greater distance prescription your close up vision as such will be more difficult (as you hit something called presbyopia) You could probably come to a compromise (if you aren't relying for the sharpest distance vision) by lowering it to maybe - 5.50 and see if this helps in both meridians. Or as a PP suggested monovision. Or multifocal contact lenses. Good luck.

I have the same issue as my new lens prescription is stronger. It won't get any better, I use a pair of cheap readers for close up. Its annoying though.

Yup, I am nearly 48 and have just had to get reading glasses to wear when I have my contacts in. Guess that means I'm officially middle-aged now.

@TreacleHart

I had mono vision for a long time with my lenses. Basically one for reading and one for distance. It sounds awful, but it's surprising what your brain can deal with.

Oh! I have the same, but weirdly had never bothered to find out what it's called (so thank you Treacle).

OP I was given the choice of mono vision, or using reading glasses on top of contact lenses, or varifocal lenses. Something in me revolts against 'correcting' my near vision, when it's perfectly fine; and I was scared of the varifocal option.

The mono vision thing is ... serviceable. Took a little while to get used to but no real problems. And actually, in times of lockdown, I can spend weeks at home without using lenses at all.

I am 43, I am not old

It's been 2 years since my last sight test as I was advised that was the correct interval. I will be utterly furious if the only option is to wear reading glasses - the optician actually commented on my excellent close up vision

Good Lord the horror, I'll be contemplating a natty little chain to keep them round my neck next

I've had mine monovision for 10 years+ now and they are amazing for me. One of my eyes is -9.5 the other is -10.5 but I wear -9.5 in both and the one which is under-corrected does the reading. Saves me the hassle of having to have reading glasses. There are very occasional times when I still can't read something (tiny print on a coloured background, eg ingredient labels) and for that I use the magnifier on my phone but for all general reading and distance I am absolutely fine with the contacts.

To be honest I've got the multifocal contact lenses and have +1 and +2 reading glasses around the place. After years of £500-a-shot varifocal glasses, it's quite a treat to have some cheap and fun glasses.

It took two goes to get the prescription right, I could not get on with the one long/one short option.

I also have excellent close up vision, I wouldn't wear contact lenses for sewing or close work.

If you get monthly disposable lenses (rather than single use) you can take them in and out without feeling you are wasting a pair every time.

It is mortifying when I have to find a young person to thread a needle for me - because I'm impeded by lenses. I hear myself blustering about how my own eyes have no problem at all with needle threading ...

no wonder you got complimented on your near vision....your contacts were probably more like a reading prescription

with that sort of change I'd imagine that driving and tv would have been a bit iffy if you were so undercorrected!

The extra minus should have improved your distance quite remarkably, and it will have impacted your close as your eyes will be having to work much harder over the extra minus to focus on a close thing

Unfortunately at 43 you are racing downhill to presbyopia and your options are as follows
lenses plus reading specs
lenses as monovision (one for distance, one for reading)
varifocal contact lenses
specs

Success of mono vision or varifocal contacts is variable and can depend on how much difference there is between the two. I tried monovision with a very small reading add and it aggravated me, but once the difference between distance and near got bigger it seemed easier
Also tried varifocal lenses, but I have huge amounts of astigmatism so that was pretty difficult, I did get excellent vision eventually, but only with a specific (expensive) manufacturer and the comfort was dreadful, wearing time was down to about 6 hours before I wanted to peel off my corneas and scrub them down.
And mostly i still had to pop on a pair of +1.00 readers to sharpen up anything smaller than average.

Some optometrists disapprove of monovision, it's not good for your stereoscopic vision, but it is probably the simplest.

ooh only other thing is if the Optom has had a moment and matched/ordered your new lenses to match your spec prescription... usually for shortsighted folks your contacts will be a bit less minus than your specs so that means you are probably a little over corrected and could stand a bit less minus, which might help with the close work!

I wear varifocal glasses, and I also have single vision contact lenses with reading glasses when needed. Works for me. I use monthly disposables, which works out a little cheaper than dailies, but then my lenses are -8/-9 and I have astigmatism in both eyes.

@murbblurb

how old are you? Once middle aged presbyopia sets in this is exactly what will happen.The strengthening of the distance prescription will exacerbate the effect.

there are multifocal contact lenses, but the simplest solution is a couple of pairs of Poundland readers over the top of the lenses. They are scattered all over this house; I have different ones for computer use and reading when I have my lenses in.

PITA but that's ageing for you.

Yes. Happened to me. Cheap reading glasses on top of contacts sorts out close vision.