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.

45-50 most people start realising their arms aren’t long enough any more.

Are the people who "don't need" glasses just in denial? How can some eyes keep supple enough to adjust? I was a show off about my 20/20 vision until my mid-40s. Can't see a bloody thing now without my varifocals. Quite scary how dependent you become on them.

78 don't need reading glasses yet. Distance seems be improving though. Weird.

@Xmasbaby11 there was a thread recently saying how good asda opticians are ( you might not have one close by but just an idea)

Yep happened to both me and DH in our 40’s

It's incredibly normal
Over 60% of 40+ year olds need some form of vision correction, according to my optician
And
https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-health-for-life/adult-vision-41-to-60-years-of-age?sso=y
Don't worry about, just accept that you're going to look more intelligent and more distinguished, and not have to squint at small print any more

I got to 49 and had 20/20 vision and optician said I had been lucky and as I was 50 very soon (a few weeks after) it was to be expected

need only +1 for reading but without my glasses letters are a blur

I'm also blind as a bat. -7 in both eyes, glasses wearer since age 6.
I knew everyone struggled with their close up/reading in middle age, but I stupidly thought that it meant that my eyes would IMPROVE, as the long sightedness would mean that it counter acts my short sightedness, and my vision would end up better.
Nope!
I'm now blind as a bat AND can't read labels, packets, books.
So now I need contacts (or my main glasses sometimes if I'm not going anywhere) AND reading glasses.
Varifocals would fix this but I've not given in yet.
If I read in bed with my (normal) glasses on, I have to perch them on the end of my nose like a school marm

I held out on varifocals for ages but finally caved at about 55....

I was only 32 when I had my "WTAF. This already?" moment. I was doing my shift as a volunteer at my local CAB and helping a client fill in a claim form (for Disability Living Allowance IIRC) when the words on the page slipped out of focus. It didn't last for long, but an optician told me when I was in my mid-twenties that my long vision would get more pronounced after thirty, so I knew it would keep happening and become very difficult to live with. By the time I was in my forties I had reading vision old ladies laugh at, but by then, I was a huge fan of reading glasses. My reading vision continued to deteriorate, (I'm 60 now and it's atrocious) but as long as I've got reading glasses, I can continue to follow instructions on things, send emails and texts, and most of all for a lifelong bookworm, I can still read.

In the meantime, a tendency to short-sightedness is setting in and my optician thinks I've probably got cataracts starting. Whoopee doo. . .

I’m mid 40s and dreading this, mostly due to the cost tbh. Everyone tells me that varifocals are ££££s. I have been shortsighted since school and just get the 2 for £70 when I get my glasses at the moment.

I had perfect vision until I hit 45, then I struggled with reading small print up close or in dim light. So now have reading glasses.

On a more positive note I can still read small print far way perfectly and the optician told me this won't deteriorate. So shouldn't ever need glasses for driving etc.

I think it is common. I've worn glasses for short sightedness since I was a child. My eyes weren't too bad though. But then in my 40s I was having really bad misses with doors. I just couldn't judge them. It freaked me out but the optician knew it straight away. I needed varifocals. After a trying two weeks I was fine with them.

Not yet... nearer 50 than 40. .much nearer...eye test a few weeks ago. ..seems my short sighted might be slightly helping for now...think it be a different answer in 2 years although seems I need to be seen in 1 year due to my age and family history....

I don't need reading glasses yet. Just shy of 50.

Perfect distance vision. Near perfect near vision.

It's about the only part of me that is near perfect!!

Yep, I'm 46. Started needing glasses in my 30s, had to get varifocals earlier this year.

I think I needed reading glasses over my contact lenses at about 45. Sometimes I forgot to take them to work so then had two pairs. Then my eyes got dry and my contact lenses got uncomfortable as the menopause hit. I think I gave into varifocals by about 47/8, occasionally wearing contacts for social stuff.

Twenty years on >>whispers<< I'm happier in specs all the time now, they hide the little wrinkles and the bags

I am 47 and still don't need any type of glasses. My last eye test only showed slight age-related eye deterioration.

DH is 55 and only has glasses for distance, he can read fine.
I only have glasses for reading which I got at age 45.

Afraid so OP, I had 20/20 vision until 40, I now have varifocals for reading and computer work - if anyone talks to me from a distance I have to peer over the top of my glasses to be able to see them and it makes me feel so old!

Interesting thread, I am a -6 and my eyes are getting worse, long sighted ( for reading) now

Those of you who have had eye surgery where did you go?

My optician said wait until you get cataracts and then you can have them removed (I am 53) wtf 😡

Sadly, this is the truth.

My eyesight isn't dreadful in the grand scheme of things, but I'm shortsighted enough to have been wearing glasses since I was eight and lenses from 13. I also have an astigmatism in one eye which makes driving at night fun, even with corrective lenses.

Now, at 45, I have cracked and started wearing reading glasses WITH my lenses. Don't even get me started on low lighting in restaurants.

It's utter bollocks, it really is. 20/20 vision sounds AMAZING.

Priceless 🤣🤣🤣

If you have not already been, then that needs checking out by an optician asap.

63 don’t use reading glasses. Take off my “driving glasses” in the house, have a bit of an issue with the tv, where neither driving, nor reading glasses quite work properly.