To think everyone over 50 has reading glasses?

[beingchampion]

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.

[Finchbon]

My eyes were like yours. Better than 20/20 for distance. Then I hit 40 and it all went downhill. 43 now and have varifocals. Not able to read comfortably at all without them (have to shut my right eye to even attempt it)

[schnubbins]

Im 54, shortsighted at -1.5 and need glasses for driving and television.I went to the Ophthalmologist last year and had my eyes checked re glaucoma etc.She said to me that the' aging process' in my eyes was already concluded and I will probably not need reading glasses.

[DinaCaliente]

I always had 20/20 vision until I hit my 40's.
Then my near sight started to deteriorate and I started needing glasses for reading.

Now I'm 50 I wear varifocals as my distance has got worse the last couple of years (I have a small distance prescription and I think +2.75 now for reading).

I've got your typical age related dodgy eyesight now.

[Whichoneofyoudidthat]

I don’t.

My arms are 8 feet long though.

[CMOTDibbler]

I've always had distance glasses, and in my mind I thought that eventually my distance vision would get better. It didn't - I just couldn't see things close up either as its that your eye lens gets stiffer and less able to change shape with age. Have had varifocals since my early 40's and its still getting worse

[havingtochangeusernameagain]

48 in a couple of months and can manage at the moment, although I find some colour on colour articles in magazines difficult to read in artificial light. I occasionally need to hold something up to the light or get a magnifying glass out but have no problem reading a book.

On the plus side, my 80 year old mum was about my age when she first got reading glasses and her eyes haven't deteriorated any further, she can still use the same glasses that she got when she was in her late 40s. If she holds a newspaper up to the window, she can still read it without glasses. So like schnubbins perhaps.

[WombleishOfTheThighs]

I'm 53 and I only need reading glasses when I'm wearing my contact lenses, which are for distance, and they're too strong to see close up. If I'm not wearing them, then, no I don't need them for reading etc.

[WombleishOfTheThighs]

Time4Change0 I’m the only one in my family who needs glasses (since age 10)

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

[easyandy101]

I don’t.

My arms are 8 feet long though.

[Gatehouse77]

Nope, mine are for distance - don't need anything for reading.

I guess it depends on your starting point.

[MatildaTheCat]

I’m another one with one perfect eye and one very slightly short sighted. I can read fine but now wear glasses for night driving.

One thing I think is true of all middle aged and older people is needing much more light to read. Seeing us all peering at menus in restaurants using our phone torches is properly tragic. 🤣

[tabulahrasa]

“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.“

Yeah, could isn’t the same as should though...

Turns out that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for the past couple of years without knowing it... things are so much clearer with glasses and using both eyes for both distances, lol

[Takethebullbth]

Funny you ask. I’m 49 & have started to struggle. Have an appointment with the optometrist in a couple of weeks.

[MarianaMoatedGrange]

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

I'm 65 and this^

[AngelsWithSilverWings]

I'm 49. I'm fine for distance but have reading glasses which I only need to wear when I'm tired or in bad light.Often forget to take them out with me in the evening and then struggle to read restaurant menus.

[3timeslucky]

When I got mine tested the optician told me that from 40 on it is really common. I've in my early 50s and have had reading glasses for maybe 7 years now. I wish I had fully appreciated what I had. They are such a faff. But an essential faff.

[Alsohuman]

Not since my cataract surgery. Glasses for driving and cinema only now.

[mintich]

@schnubbins the aging process for eyes definitely wont be over at 54. Perhaps the optometrist meant in regards to your distance prescription, but not your reading

[museumum]

My dad didn't need them till he was 60. I am hoping for the same (currently early 40s). My dh (late 40s) seems to have started doing that thing where he moves the page away or zooms on his phone so I think he will need them soon.

[schnubbins]

@mintich .I asked her if she knew how long it would be before I would need bifocals.Then she looked at me as if I was half daft and said that the 'ageing process' is finished.I was also a bit surprised but didn't probe any further as she wasn't the warm and fuzzy type.We shall see .....

[Ijustwanttoretire]

I am short sighted (I'm 60) so don't need them, however I did buy some poundland ones for VERY close work (jewellery making). I wear glasses for distance - when I was younger I wore them for reading, so my eyes have gone full circle (so to speak!)

[YouTheCat]

I'm 50 and don't need glasses for anything.

[Rubytinsleslippers]

My great aunt is deaf as a post but no glasses at 86.

[Hazza000]

Yeah bought them off the peg in Waitrose and I now have two pairs. Need them now really certainly for my phone lol

[Mercedes519]

I hate to burst bubbles on here but I am a lifer of short sightedness with a minus prescription and am now developing a plus prescription which means I struggle to read close up.

Bugger is that they don't cancel each other out. Bi-focals are calling....