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 didn't need glasses at all until reading became an issue at around 50? Took me all of 6 months of not being able to find even one of my million pairs of readers to get a total lens replacement!

Close to 50 and a minus 5.
I simply move things closer or further or take off my glasses and don't intend changing that. Not sure how you'd manage with contacts though, does this mean I can't wear contacts any more?

I had my lenses replaced because of cataracts aged 50 and now I don't need glasses except for reading glasses.
Get another opinion regarding lense replacement from another optician?

I've just turned 59. On my last eye check, I was told there is the very beginning of cataracts! I'm gutted. I've been wearing contact lenses & glasses for over 20 years, I wear lenses in the day and glasses in the evening, and accepted I need them, not suitable for laser eye surgery. I wasn't prepared for the cataracts thing though. I asked the ophthalmologist if there's anything I can do to slow the progression; just don't smoke, and avoid the sun/shield your eyes. I had noticed a slight deterioration in my sight, but this is sobering.

It happened to me too. I was so fed up of glasses I went for laser surgery and was told I needed lens replacement instead. I went through with it and now my eyesight is ruined. PLEASE DO NOT let anyone near your eyes - the industry is unregulated, it’s all about upselling and making as much money as possible and when things go wrong (and they do, all of the time) they won’t give a f**k.

I was offered further surgery to attempt to correct their mistakes, at a cost of an extra £5,000. I wouldn’t let them near me again if they paid me. The whole thing has been one of the most traumatic experiences of my life and, unfortunately, there are no guarantees my sight can ever be improved.

This is why the “age is just a number” brigade annoy me. Your eyes and other organs are 40+ years old - of course they are not going to work as well! You wouldn’t expect your oven to work that long so why expect it of your organs?

I’m 52 and don’t need reading glasses. Had my eyes tested recently and could still read the bottom line of the card they give you to read.

Surely the “age is just a number” brigade are
themselves under the age of 42?! Its usually used for those justifying marrying men their fathers age <shudder>

2 of my friends and 2 colleagues have opted for lens replacement surgery at about 50. They’ve all been thrilled with the results (and won’t now get cataracts). I’m quite tempted for when my long vision starts to go.

I'm 53. Virtually all my friends have started wearing reading glasses in the last few years. Mine are very weak. They cost about £15 off the shelf and I just wear them over my -5 contact lenses.

I made it to 51...now need varifocals as I can only see properly if things are staying still and about 2 metres away! But until last year my eyesight was essentially perfect.

When my optician said this, I went elsewhere. It's a great way to sell you vastly overpriced glasses or contacts.

I'm at a stage where I have better than 20/20 vision with my glasses on but now don't need glasses to read, cook or sew. I mostly wear them for driving or watching TV etc like I did when I first got them as a kid. I reckon this is doable for the whole of your 40's. Pick up one of those reading tests in an opticians. If you can read it without glasses to a level you're happy with, you really don't need anything other than you're regular glasses for now.

At some point your arms get too short to be able to read stuff.

I just wear reading glasses as well as my contacts. Like now, because I'd have to hold my phone far away (or enlarge the text) to see. I'm -2, which seems quite mild compared to a lot on here, but I also have astigmatism, so I can only function with glasses/ contacts. I wear contacts most of the time, so I have various cheap reading glasses dotted around the house for reading or close work - sewing/ doing clasps on things/ untying knots.

Haven't read all the previous posts so not sure if this has already been suggested.
I had the same issue but my optician suggested mono vision- so you have one contact lens set for your distance prescription and the other for reading. Your brain adjusts to it but it's not for everyone so you have to try it and see how it feels. I was fine with it steaight away just ask your optician to supply a few days worth of disposable lenses for you to try. I've stopped wearing lenses now and wear glasses from Asda -£80 a pair for vaifocals a bargain!! Hope this helps

Mid 50s, buy my reading glasses from the pound shop.

I think more focus should be on driving glasses - please get these if you are told you need them.

I was 52 before I needed reading glasses I had perfect sight to start off with though.

I was just googling "mid 40s struggling to read in low light" and this thread popped up. I've just been really struggling to read the newspaper while sitting on the sofa. I'm increasingly struggling with very small print too but light level seems to be the biggest factor. I'm also struggling a bit with night driving though I think that's just the preponderance of blinding LED headlights? Anyway I guess I need to see my optician. I've worn glasses since I was a toddler, astigmatism plus mild short sightedness. Will varifocals help with all these issues?!

Mid 40s for me. I went down the varifocal contact lens route they are fabulous. Just have plain lenses in my glasses as I don’t wear them much. Still need my phone torch for low light in restaurants though

I don’t get this. You said you already need glasses but will need glasses on top?

Most people I know started to need glasses in their mid 40s+

Mine went in my early 40s. Was stuck at -1.25 for years then the past year it’s gone to -2.50. Doesn’t seem like a lot but I really can’t read without my glasses. I mean I can just but it’s so blurry and then I get a headache

I had varifocals which I loved but I don’t need them now so I have the other type where I can focus on reading then look up and focus on a computer, dunno what they’re called.

the joys of middle age. 😂

45 and just got varifocals!