is it normal to become suddenly short-sighted (things far away blurry, but close up clear) ) in your 40s?

[mechanicalpencil]

I was recently diagnosed with myopia. Things far away suddenly were all blurred when before I had 20-20 vision. My close-up vision is still fine. The optician said normally people get long-sighted as they older (I am 46) and seemed a little concerned about a few things.
I have another appointment to check in next month, but really feel as though it's steadily getting worse.

I was wondering

• Is it normal to suddenly get myopia?

• how much screen time worsens/causes it?

• Is there anything I can do to slow it down?

thank you for reading

I'm about your age and have noticed a significant deterioration in my sight in the last two years. I'm expecting to move to varifocals in the next year.

I now struggle to change from close up to distance and have a lot of blurriness when switching.

This website says it is a known thing, and usually associated with doing lots of close work.

https://www.myopiaprofile.com/articles/adult-onset-myopia-measurement-and-management

According to my optician, it happens to nearly everyone at age 44-45!

This happened to me. I stopped switching my eyes between phone screen and TV and they went back to normal. Couldn't believe it.
I pause the TV and look at my phone now instead and it seems to work. Perhaps the eye muscles or whatever can't work as hard?

Happened to me ... turned out I was diabetic (originally diagnosed as T2, soon corrected to T1.) I was 45.

It's worth getting tested at the pharmacy- big changes in eyesight can be due to osmotic effect of high blood sugar. The other symptoms I had put down to being middle aged, chunky, tired through over work etc

Dunno. It happened to be in my late 20s - I guess it can happen anytime?

It's usual to become long-sighted in your 40s (ie trouble reading etc), not to become suddenly short-sighted (trouble seeing further away) like the OP.

I had laser eye surgery at 32 then at 44 and my vision was perfect. But my vision suddenly deteriorated over 2 months. It was reading but also in the car.

Optician suggested varifocals to help with reading and I'm computer screen but I was incomplete denial for 6 months and tried some Cheap readers which are useless!

I slunk back to the opticians and wear varifocals now all the time.

Nope. People get long-sighted as they get older (eg their distance vision is fine but they can't see close things clearly, so need glasses for reading etc.)

I have never heard of this happening the other way round, e.g. distance vision getting worse suddenly with age.

I became long sighted around 40 which is extremely common. My distance vision has got a bit worse now I’m mid 50s but it’s nowhere near as bad as my close up vision.

I don’t know anyone who has developed myopia in middle age. It has always happened much younger. Can you ask for a referral to an ophthalmologist?

Thank you very much for all your messages.
I am due another check up next month at the eye hospital as they were a bit concerned. I will report back here.
In the meantime, I am trying to get plenty of natural light, significantly reduced my screen time, and started taking lutein supplements.

@tigerpants800 do you mean you adjust between say phone and tv more slowly , so for instance you are watching tv, then pause, close eyes and then look at phone?

@TheRoundaboutHadLovelyFlowers
thank you for posting that link.

@mechanicalpencil
Kind of. I don't let myself watch/read 2 screens at the same time. Or switch between them quickly, back and forth for an extended period. If I do then my eyesight noticeably deteriorates. I should probably get my eyes checked.

@tigerpants800 yes, that makes sense, I’ve often wondered the impact of all these screens on our eyes. Very good advice, thanks.