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Original poster

When did you start to need reading glasses?

52 replies

GlassesTime · 17/09/2023 08:27

I've never worn glasses and my eyesight appears to be perfectly fine at the moment but I'm 40 next year and aware that at some point my eyesight will start to deteriorate.

I'm just curious to know when others began to need some assistance with reading?

TIA

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 17/09/2023 08:29

I’d say at about 49/50, but I struggled on for a while before that, and I refused to give in!

blibblibs · 17/09/2023 08:30

This year at 47, but probably should've got them at least a couple of years ago.

PosiePerkinPootleFlump · 17/09/2023 08:30

Quite sudden deterioration for reading print age 45. I can still get away without them but find it harder on my eyes at 46.
Rest of vision still 20:20

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General health
Highlyflavouredgravy · 17/09/2023 08:31

49
And then...boom! Blind as a bat

CrunchyCarrot · 17/09/2023 08:31

Late forties I think. Definitely didn't need them at 40 although I had started to notice some changes in my sight. Had a test at that point and I still didn't need them, but by the time I was 50 was wearing reading glasses. Now at 67 I need them for all distances, so things just keep going downhill!

Badbadbunny · 17/09/2023 08:32

Can't remember exactly, but mid to late 40s.

Dontjudgeme101 · 17/09/2023 08:32

I think 45+

UnaOfStormhold · 17/09/2023 08:32

47 and it feels imminent - I find small print like the back of packets difficult but am ok with normal size text in reasonable light.

Catsfrontbum · 17/09/2023 08:33
BumbleBee75 · 17/09/2023 08:33

My husband and I were both 44. We can't read anything without glasses anymore! Happened all of a sudden!

Idlechitchat · 17/09/2023 08:34

42

Mum2aTeen · 17/09/2023 08:34

I had to get glasses when I was about 24/25 for driving reading and watching TV/screen time, and I wear them basically all day. I find they help more with day to day things.
Before then, I had great eyesight but just went downhill.

PiddleOfPuppies · 17/09/2023 08:35

I got varifocals at 41, but started to struggle with threading needles and picking splinters out in my late 30s.

Original poster
GlassesTime · 17/09/2023 08:35

Thanks all.

I know someone who is soon to be 57 and he still doesn't need them but I doubt that I'll get that lucky.

OP posts:
pastaandpesto · 17/09/2023 08:36

47

Anewuser · 17/09/2023 08:37

I’ve needed glasses to drive for twenty years. During the last couple of years haven’t needed them to drive or read. Really weird. The optician tried explaining it about things in the distance moving closer but still don’t really understand it. However, I’m 57 and can tell that in the next few years I’ll need glasses to read up close.

LifeofBrienne · 17/09/2023 08:38

Got them at 45, for a year or two I’d been needing brighter light in the evening to read as my eyes were knackered and useless under electric light that time of day, e.g. using a clip on reading light when reading to DC at bedtime.

I had a real psychological block about getting reading glasses meaning I would be an old woman. Now I love my glasses!

Purpleavocado · 17/09/2023 08:39

Late 40s. I already have very strong myopia and wear contact lenses.

EquallyDetermined · 17/09/2023 08:40

Amongst my friends it generally seems to be around 50. Mine is a bit different because I am severely short-sighted and have always worn glasses or contact lenses but I am still just about managing without varifocals in my mid 50s (avoiding them on cost grounds as I mainly wear contacts and hard to justify the cost of VF glasses when I only need them as backup). For the odd thing that I really can't read with my contacts in (usually tiny print, coloured backgrounds, low light eg ingredient labels) I use the magnifying lens on my phone.

Alwayswonderedwhy · 17/09/2023 08:40

Reading glasses at 40 then eyesight got gradually worse. Started wearing varyfocals at 47.

mizu · 17/09/2023 08:40

Still don't need for reading and was 50 this year - had a recent eye test and may need them in 2 years time.

However, I've had glasses for distance ( driving) for just over 2 years now. Took some getting used to as had never worn glasses before.

CatOnAHotShedRoof · 17/09/2023 08:43

Glasses for driving and watching TV when I was 25/26, then reading glasses in late 40s.

Then suddenly my sight changed early 2021, with a glaucoma and a macular hole, followed by cataracts. I've lost a huge amount of vision in one eye and the other eye likely to go the same way. Now having to wear glasses all the time and reading glasses for close work.

DappledThings · 17/09/2023 08:43

I'm 44. Recently tried to read the back.ofna pattern and couldnt till the woman in the shop leant me her reading glasses and it was a revelation.

Went to Primark and bought some that week but haven't used them since. It must have been that combination of lighting and the packet specifically but must be coming more generally soon!

DontGiveMeThatOldCrap · 17/09/2023 08:45

At the age of 16. I'm mid-60s now

DinnaeFashYersel · 17/09/2023 09:07

45

I believe the pandemic and switch to spending hours on teams/zoom speeded up the deterioration of my eyesight.

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