Eyesight changed

[Teacherteachernotapreacher]

Hi
really hoping someone can advice on this!
i’m 41 and not sure if I’m in any stage of the menopause yet. However, I’ve experienced problems with my eyesight and now wondering if it’s hormonal. I’ve been to the opticians today and my prescription hasn’t changed (I’m slightly short sighted but don’t need glasses)
however, when reading music or reading then returning to it (white board or book) I am really struggling to track or find my place again. I’ve never had this before and just assumed it was my eyesight getting worse. Now I’m wondering if it’s brain related than eyes and maybe I’ve got some weird hormone slowing my brain down.
any ideas?! It’s very frustrating especially with music playing.

are you under stress at all at the moment? it can do funny things (not sure if this is one but I've had stress releated eye issues before)

No not particularly, have a fairly stressful job but nothings changed recently

Have you been tested for presbyopia (difficulty seeing things close up)? That's normal in your 40s as your eye muscles become less efficient. I would go back to the optician. They can refer you to an eye-specialist if it isn't something that can be solved with glasses. Otherwise you might just need reading glasses.

Specsavers we’re pretty sure I didn’t need glasses - would they have tested for presbyopia as part of a normal sight test? Never heard of it.
he was fairly dismissive when he realised it wasn’t a prescription thing so not sure he would have referred me. They did make me do some weird peripheral vision test thing I’ve never done before but that was also fine

Did they give you a card with different size print on it to hold and read (as if reading a book)? That's the test they normally do for presbyopia. Presbyopia is why so many people of 40 + need reading glasses, but it's related to your eye muscles losing the ability to focus rather than the curvature of your eye lens as with myopia (short-sightedness).

Yes they did! And I could read the smallest line on it so guess that means it’s fine

I get similar ( I do wear glasses) was told it is muscle strength and that they are slower to adapt to different focus points, so far to near might blur for a bit, it can be worse on some days but apparently not much you can do to stop it..

Hormones really can make a difference to eyesight. While pregnant I went from needing glasses to drive to just needing a prescription if I wanted one.

I swear oestrogen fluctuations really have an impact on my eyes, blurry unfocused eyes to just my normal fuzzy short sightedness.

As you’ve had your eyes tested and they have been pronounced fine, it might be down to the elasticity of you eye muscles. So, they can expand and contract as they should - hence you can see perfectly well, however, they either don’t respond as quickly as they did 20 years ago, or they have got tired as your day goes on. This you experience a lag in your eyes readjusting between vision distances. This alas, is just age and hormones creeping up on you. (A but like we start to stiffen if we sit to long, when we didn’t when we were teenagers).

I have been twice to the opticians since I turned 40 both times as my eyesight just didnt feel right. When I looked at my phone I would feel a but dizzy when I hadn't before. Eyes felt more tired achy almost. Optician said both times they were fine no change to my prescription which is mildly short sighted. Told me to wear my glasses at work and for driving but that I didnt need them the rest of the time but that it was going to change the later I got into my forties. I am now 45 I notice it sometimes and other times not at all. It is weird but I am used to it now and hit unduly worried.