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General health

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Original poster

At what age did you need reading glasses?

83 replies

Redtulip2 · 10/11/2023 23:50

Having just received my first pair at the age of 41, I'm intrigued to find out at what age you required specs.

I know many people require glasses from childhood, one of my children included. What I wonder is, what's the average age for needing glasses due to age associated visual decline.

I didn't realise how much I needed them until I got them, now they're barely off my face!

OP posts:

Bichette · 25/11/2023 15:38

butteredbarmbrack · 11/11/2023 08:24

I've been shortsighted since around 14-15 but trouble with my near vision just in the past year or two (I'm 52). I haven't really got on well with bifocals, and definitely not with multi focal contact lenses which just made everything feel a bit trippy outdoors!

Like other pps I was finding it annoying either wearing specs and taking them off all the time to read, or contacts and having to put reading glasses on and off. I'm now trying "monovision" as suggested by my optician when I asked if there were any other options. I thought it might be some snazzy new type of contacts, but no, it just means only wearing the distance contacts in one eye and relying on the other for reading! I find it's working quite well for work days, especially in the office, when you're switching between reading and walking about.

For days mostly doing distance vision e.g. driving any distance, going for a walk, I would go with contacts in both eyes. And am finding if I have a day mostly pottering at home, using specs is fine as I can keep them off if just reading, cooking etc and only need them for watching TV.

I do this.
Just wear one contact lens in my dominant eye.
It's not perfect but means I don't need glasses for reading at age 58.

Goatymum · 25/11/2023 17:17

Not yet and I’m 52.

weegiemum · 25/11/2023 20:58

I don't have them, I have very poor distance vision and just take my glasses off and can read no bother. I'm 52.

Dh got his at 49 - he was holding out till 50 but couldn't! He's a GP and realised that he couldn't see verrucas when examining and freezing them off!!

RudsyFarmer · 28/11/2023 10:46

Same age as my mum and my sibling interestingly.

floofbag · 28/11/2023 10:48

45 and I hate it .. I have had perfect vision my whole life and now nearly 50 I need them for all reading

It sucks ! I have to work with them in my head as I only need them for small words ! 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

RedToothBrush · 28/11/2023 10:49

I was 44 just about to turn 45 when I last saw the optician. They basically did that teeth sucking thing and said "oooo you are AT that age. You hit 45 and your eyes just go".

I didn't need them. This time. Optician said she thought she'd see me within the year. (not for the amount it cost me for my glasses she won't).

RudsyFarmer · 28/11/2023 10:50

My theory is that it’s the half decades where the ageing begins. Not the 40 and 50 and 60 milestones. For me it was 35 when I noticed the wrinkles starting. 45 when I noticed the sagging and the beginning of eyesight loss. 55 I imagine will be full blown menopause and my breasts hitting my waistband.

RudsyFarmer · 28/11/2023 10:52

I should add something that’s actually helped my eyesight instead of moaning. Castor oil rubbed into my eyelids at night. It’s definitely helped. It’s meant to break up floaters.

There’s also an prescription eyedrop that’s been recently approved in America that you can get privately in the U.K. It helps with the blurring of eye related eyesight loss.

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