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.

The reason your reading vision is quite good though is because you need glasses for the distance!

I'm 51, short sighted (have wore distance glasses when needed since around 28). I have only recently in the past few months struggled with close up stuff, e.g. ingredients on packets or instructions on boxes. Can still read a newspaper or my kindle though not really small printed books but I've never been good with those as I'm a really fast reader!

53 - just wear glasses for driving.

Just wanted to echo this - the flashing lights can be a sign of retinal detachment, with my prescription I’m always being warned about it.

I believe it’s highly treatable if caught early.

My short sightedness isn't horrendous but I've worn glasses since the age of 15. I'm 52 now and need specs for computer work too. I fully expect to need reading glasses in the next couple of years as well.

The worst part is needing to carry 3 pairs of glasses; distance, distance sunglasses for driving and occupational glasses.

I have been shortsighted all of my life and have worn glasses or contact lenses. When I got to my mid forties I found that I couldn't read anything with my contact lenses in and you can't really start taking them out mid meeting to read some papers! I can now and always have been able to read without any glasses, I am in my sixties now. I tried just using a contact lens in one eye which worked for a while but as I got older (and dried up) I found contact lenses caused me problems. I now where glasses to get around and watch TV bit they spend a lot of time perched on the top of my head when reading or using the computer.

No need for the melodrama OP.
Like you I have always been very short sighted.
When my sight started to change when I was your age my optician changed my contact lens prescription. I use one eye for reading and one for long distance.
my brain adjusts automatically.
I’m 60 now & still no need for reading glasses.

Ageing affecting you eyesight is inevitable. Unlike Mumsnet's ageing predictions - health crumbling with perimenopause, reduced to dust with menopause, moving straight into early dementia with a big side of sepsis potential.

So it seems that people with fairly normal vision when younger will probably either need glasses for driving and other distant stuff or glasses for reading

I got told the same. I have got 'progressive. Lenses' or back varifocals. Can't say they make a huge difference.

😂 and how it’s unlikely you will be able to work past 60 (probably due to turning to dust due to menopause)

Dunno. I wear glasses for driving, that’s all.

Been using off the shelf reading glasses since mid 40's, as have most of my previously non glasses wearing friends. Needed glasses for driving from mid 50's.

My DB (68) doesn't wear glasses at all. Ironically he was the only one of 3 siblings who wore glasses as a child. He's never needed them as an adult.

I've had excellent vision all my life but I did get reading glasses at 45 my mum got them in early 40. My DH is 46 and still no glasses at all.

Yep. I had varifocals before I was 40.

Yes this is what I have. One eye is -7 and the other is 5.75. Used to be -7 and -8.

I had laser eye surgery for my - 5 short sight in my 30s. Now in my mid-50s I occasionally use reading glasses but it's no big deal - just pop them on when needed and then whip them off again. Nothing like wearing glasses for short sight all the time. I've never regretted having laser eye surgery. A friend had it done in his 50s - at this age you normally get lens replacement which I assume fixes presbyopia too? My friend's gran had laser eye surgery in her 70s.

Mid-40s when I first needed reading glasses, then I think mid-50s for other distances. I can't get on with varifocals so I have reading glasses and computer distance glasses. It is annoying but one gets used to it. Worst thing is now (nearing 70) very dry eyes. Optician said that's very common at my age and especially being female. Sigh.

I am 51. Been -6 and -9 most of my life. No varifocals as yet. My wife had 20/20 until recently, now on varifocals. No rhyme nor reason but your optician will have seen more eyes than most to be fair!

I’m 54 have just started wearing reading glasses last month, same with most of my friend group who are similar age, couple of friends not eating them yet. My DH doesn’t, he’s 55

Made it to 50, but now need varifocals. My old prescription was -5. I Probably put off varifocals for longer than I should but the varifocals contact lenses are brilliant. Wish I had asked for them sooner. Also have a pair of varifocals glasses that are also great. Vision back to where it was when I was younger.

43 and this happened to me today. I need varifocals and also got told that my something or other is deteriorating and I should expect more floaters but not to worry as it is ‘normal’. And I have dry eyes - there are still sore from the air they puffed into them! Did I say I am only 43?!

Yep - 43, been wearing glasses (short sighted) for years & got varifocals last year. Was struggling with small print, threading needles etc.

My prescription isn't even that strong - 2 or 3 I think.

I will say that though I HATED the varifocals at first and they took a good month to adjust to - they're great now! I don't notice the different prescriptions, I can just see everything I need to.

52 and mildly short sighted, don’t need reading glasses. Was told I could have varifocals if I wanted. I don’t.

Yeah my contacts are -10.50 and -12.00