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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think everyone over 50 has reading glasses?

55 replies

beingchampion · 11/11/2019 13:39

I have, nearly everyone I know has got them, has anyone out there over 50 had their eyes tested and not needed them? Distant vision is fine, better than 20/20 apparently which sounds odd as I thought that was as good as it got.

OP posts:
Seeingadistance · 11/11/2019 13:44

51 and wearing mine to read this!

Wixi · 11/11/2019 13:46

Nope, I don't have reading glasses and I am 50! I do though have glasses for every day life as I cannot see without them, but they are not specifically reading glasses. Same with my DH and DF.

tinytemper66 · 11/11/2019 13:46

Just months them tested.

SurpriseSparDay · 11/11/2019 13:47

I don’t.

My near sight is fine, but as I need contact lenses for distance I wear a different prescription in each eye. It’s only minimally awkward but I can read more easily with just my own eyes.

misscockerspaniel · 11/11/2019 13:47

I don't Smile. Strangely, 20 years ago I needed glasses for driving but my eyes improved and I no longer need them.

coconuttelegraph · 11/11/2019 13:47

Not me

BillieEilish · 11/11/2019 13:48

I'm 49 1/2 and I don't.

beingchampion · 11/11/2019 13:50

Maybe I should have been clearer, I was meaning more for those who don't already have assisted sight, either with glasses, contact lenses or any other treatment.

OP posts:
tinytemper66 · 11/11/2019 13:50

I meant... Haven't been tested for years.

Sammy867 · 11/11/2019 13:50

I need glasses for distance and have done since I was around 15. However over the years my prescription is getting better. I think had I not needed glasses for distance my close vision would be beginning to deteriorate.
Likewise if I had perfect vision, by 50 I probably would need reading glasses

beingchampion · 11/11/2019 13:51

And also assuming that you've had your 50 year old eyes tested!

OP posts:
Topseyt · 11/11/2019 13:51

I have needed glasses for every day use since I was three. Since my late forties I have also needed a specific prescription for reading and close up work. So I now have bifocals plus a special additional pair of glasses for computer work.

I am 53 now.

Time4Change0 · 11/11/2019 13:52

My over 60 parents don’t need any glasses at all.

I’m the only one in my family who needs glasses (since age 10)

Come to think of it..... the milkman wore glasses 🤔

moredogsthansense · 11/11/2019 13:53

I didn’t at 50. I’m 54 now and I certainly do!

stitchwitch85 · 11/11/2019 13:55

People who are short sighted will generally not need glasses for reading until later than people who haven't needed vision correction throughout their lives previously.

If someone has a small amount of short-sightedness (possibly not enough to need distance glasses) it is quite likely they won’t need glasses until mid to late 50s!

I am extremely short sighted so am looking forward to ageing a bit so that I can finally read in bed without needing either my specs, or to hold the book or phone a couple of inches from my nose (Headache central!) 😄

Tattyroro · 11/11/2019 13:56

I'm 49 and my eyesight has deteriorated dramatically in the last year or so. But I'm very short sighted and wear glasses for that, and still find that moving my glasses further from my eyes (tip off nose) allows me to focus on closer up stuff. Or as a last resort, removing glasses and holding whatever I'm trying to read close)

Shoppingwithmother · 11/11/2019 13:58

In general, anyone over 50 who doesn’t need glasses for reading will be to some degree shortsighted. Some people who are shortsighted in one eye and no prescription in the other could manage without any glasses ever as they would use one eye for distance and the other for reading.

20/20 (American system) or as we in the UK call it, 6/6, is not as good as it gets - on most charts there are one or two lines of letters which are smaller than this. Although if your vision is 6/6 you can see perfectly well.

TinyBean · 11/11/2019 13:59

I was prescribed reading glasses about 10 years ago (aged 35) but never used them. Had an eyetest today and was told that the old prescription wasn't strong enough to warrant glasses at all...but now I really do need reading glasses (aged 45)...though my distance vision is perfect. I guess they want to make a sale at each visit...

Campervan69 · 11/11/2019 14:01

Not me yet. I'm 50 v soon.

I did have laser eye surgery years ago for what were extremely short sighted eyes and to correct astigmatism. They did tell me that eventually I will need reading glasses. But had them tested recently and still perfect vision ATM.

Prevegen4U · 11/11/2019 14:06

My eye sight was perfect until I reached 55 when my distant vision became a bit blurred due to a autoimmune disease that showed up at the same time. My vision has become worse over the last ten years depending how much inflammation I have.

I miss having good vision.

Prevegen4U · 11/11/2019 14:07

I'd like to add; I could read the bottom line at the eye doctors right up until I was 55.

WTF99 · 11/11/2019 14:09

I'm 60 and don't need glasses to read

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 11/11/2019 14:09

I’m over 50 and only just got prescribed glasses. Prescription is -1.5 so I don’t NEED them as such. In fact they were prescribed back in August but they still aren’t ready and I’m coping just fine.

MrsFezziwig · 11/11/2019 14:14

I got to about 60 before I needed glasses at all, and now I have varifocals which I don’t wear most of the time
I have one long sighted and one short sighted eye, so I presume they balance each other out.

easyandy101 · 11/11/2019 14:17

People who grew up short sighted don't always get the reading at close range problem