AIBU to think this can't happen to everyone in their mid 40's?! Surely?

[ThisMustBeMyDream]

Went for my regular eye test today. Regretting that already. I've literally just turned 40. Been blind as a bat since age 10. Wearer of contact lenses since age 12. Sight is -6 in both eyes.
Why is it only today that the optician gleefully told me that by 42, mid 40s at the lastest I will need fucking reading glasses. I'll need some sort of varifocal contact lenses and glasses. Apparently. It happens to EVERYONE. ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE!
Give me some hope. Have you made it to 50 without needing reading glasses?! Especially if you were short sighted already.
Also! Why is this news to me now?! Why has this dreadful secret been kept from me?! I can not stand the thought of my sight being affected and having to mess around with my bloody contact lenses prescription (glasses look awful on me. Every single pair. Trust me, I've tried them all). I only asked the guy about laser eye surgery as now I'm older, I can finally afford it. Only to be told it is basically pointless to have unless in your 20s as its a waste of money due to the long sightedness developing in your 40s!
Ugh.

I can't see the problem if you already wear lenses. You can get one for longsightedness and one for shortsightedness. Job done.

I'm 41 and currently don't need glasses but do get really bad dry eye which can apparently be hormonal and linked to menopause 🤦🏼‍♀️

Sorry op, I’m 46, slightly worse script than yours and I’ve had varifocles for nearly two years. The reading is really mild but I think it will help with getting used to them.

I'm 47 and don't wear glasses or need them. My husband is 40 and had laser eye in September and he doesn't need glasses now. My cousin had his Lasered mid 40s and his vision is great now

I’m 47. Last eye test I had was at 45 for my HGV (you have to have medical every 5 years from 45 onwards)

I have perfect 20/20 vision apparently

During my 40s, my stronger eye went from a bit shortsighted to longsighted. Apparently it's very common. So they have a point. No wonder my old glasses were working so badly

I had laser eye surgery to correct short sightedness approximately 20 years ago, am now 59 and struggling with reading. Solution one contact lens for print/ computer work. My other eye works great for distance. Between them I can see everything 😀

I wear glasses for reading and have done for quite a few years, my DH, wears glasses for distance and has done since his 20s he is 69 and doesn't need reading glasses,, can read the bottom line on the chart. So no not everyone needs reading glasses.

47, prescription something like -5.75. No varifocals yet, though I'm due an opticians appointment so...

My DM is mid 60s, has regular eye tests, and her vision is fine. She has had a cataract (all sorted now) though.

That really doesn't work for everyone though so it's hardly job done.

I’m 46 and so far my eyes are fine.

My eyesight is the same as ever aged almost 46. My dad just got his first reading glasses aged 68. It's not everyone, but I may be an outlier.

I’m shortsighted and 50. My optician has told me every 6 months for the last 10 years that I’ll need reading glasses soon and said the same thing about laser eye surgery (no point you’ll need glasses for long sight soon) I’m still ok, no change in prescription since my twenties. Everything else has TTS, mind you!

Yes me too, in my 40s.
Now, new horror several decades on: diagnosis of macular dystrophy. That's not m. degeneration which is relatively common but a genetic condition that was dropped on me oh so casually at a routine eye test. I had to pursue very vigorously to check if my kids and grandkids would get it. Google it and there is no cure, makes you blind so you can understand my concern.

I needed reading glasses in my early/mid 40s. Needed varifocals for a few years now (I'm mid 50s). Sorry OP

I've been long sighted all my life. I'm mid 40's and had to get varifocals 4 years ago as I was having awful trouble reading. Sorry to say, but it happened to me 🙁

Pretty much everyone I know in their 40/50’s has varifocals or reading glasses. Not sure why it’s come as such a surprise to you.

if you don’t like glasses try varifocal lenses.

I'm 64 and don't need reading glasses yet although all of my friends have them. I do need glasses for distance though.

45 for me.

I'm coming up to 49 and two years ago I had to get my first pair of glasses to see longer distances but no sign yet of needing reading glasses. I still have a year of my 40s to go though, still time to prove your optician right I suppose.

I am 47. It boils my piss that I can read f all without my glasses. Labels, ingredients etc. Spent £400 on glasses only for them to spend 50% of the time on my head because I can see most of the time, just not able to read stuff. 3 years ago..20/20 vision.

Same. _2 in both eyes. Now reading at +75. Astigmatism getting worse. Eyes not bad enough for varifocals. So getting terrible headaches and eye strain. Will be wearing my glasses all the time before long :(

You could try refractive lens exchange and have a multifocal lens. But multifocals have their own issue and also depends how much astigmatism you have. Alternatively monofocal IOLs again clear lens exchange being left around -2 will give you comfortable reading at about 1/3 metre but you will need glasses for distance.There are options if you are happy to have surgery but find a good refractive surgeon.

Yup I was 45 when I had to have reading glasses. I'd been wearing glasses/contact lenses since age 11.
However I developed cataracts before I reached 50, last year at 59 had the cataracts removed so I only need reading glasses now. 😁