How bad is your eye sight?

[FeetupTvon]

I’m 48 and go for an eye test every two years. Every time I go my eye sight has got worse. (Short sighted) I’m currently -5.25. Is that considered really bad?

I go by how much I’m able to function without glasses. My prescription is less than yours and I massively struggle so I consider it to be pretty bad. Medical terms might be different though.

I’m -5:25 in left -5:75 in my rjght
im 29

Did some googling, apparently at -6 it’s high myopia and considered “bad” with increased risks of serious sight threatening complications.

Free eye tests kick in at -10

I'm around -8, so pretty bad.

I had perfect eyesight until my mid-40s. About 10 years later, I was completely unable to function without varifocals. Everything is blurry without them. I've still had it easy compared to my youngest - glasses since she was three.

I’m -13. Do I win the thread?

I am -7.5

I’m -10.25 in my left eye and -15.00 in my right. I can’t do anything without my glasses including finding my glasses.

Around -1.5 but I can only read 3 lines of the chart corrected

I’m -16 in one eye and -12 in the other, so yours is good in comparison! I’m 47 and have been short-sighted since I was 7.

Not very short sighted but ATROCIOUS astigmatism, especially in my right eye. I also have a degenerative condition so will probably lose my sight at some point.

I was very short sighted but since my cataract operations in January I now have distance vision but need glasses for reading and close work.
I think I was about -9 before the operations.
I must say after a life time of short sight it's been really difficult adjusting my brain to not being .

Thanks everyone, that’s really helpful. I can notice already mine will have got worse again by the next eye test. I’ve been wearing them from the age of 8, but began declining from age 35.
Ive always had Eczema around my eyes and have spent years rubbing them when they were always itchy. Also used lots of creams on eyelids since a child. (Before they were aware of a risk) and I do wonder if that has contributed

I was always around -5 both eyes but a few years ago my eyesight really deteriorated. I went for an eye test & i’m now -6.5. The optician said I have early cataracts in both eyes. I’m 61
My DD is -9 and gets free eye tests & half price glasses on the NHS, she’s in her 30s now. She used to be -10

I wouldn’t say “really bad” -it’s definitely on the stronger side, but still more common than you think. I’ve seen plenty of people around that level or higher (as people have mentioned above).

With short-sightedness it can keep changing over time, especially in your 40s, so it’s not unusual that it’s gradually increased. The main thing at that level is usually lens thickness-going for thinner lenses (like 1.67 or 1.74) can make a big difference in comfort and how the glasses look.

As long as your eye health checks are all fine, it’s more about managing it well rather than worrying about the number itself. Also, you can always go back to the opticians before your 2 years is up if you're concerned about your eye health.

I used to be a -7, then developed cataracts and got lens replacement. For a few years I could see without glasses, and now I’m back to a -2.5 and -3.

I’ve had a retinal tear which was very scary, probably as a consequence of a stretched lens.

I’m -4 in one and -3.5 in the other and I can’t see shit without my glasses so god knows how you guys with higher numbers than me feel! I’m nearly 30 and had glasses when I was about 13, my eyes have gotten worse over the years.

I am -10 in both eyes, have glaucoma, stable retinopathy and developing cataracts. I had German measles as a child after which my eyesight deteriorated. I would love to have perfect eyesight. The only good thing about my eyes is they are a lovely cornflower blue!

Ha ha I have no idea I am blind. As in no sight since birth. Do I win the thread.

I thought lens replacement meant your eyesight should be perfect? Does this mean you only get a limited number of years and then it starts to deteriorate again?

I’ve been wearing specs since I was 9, and now at 54 I have been steady at -9.0 and -9.5 for about 15 years. I can’t do anything without my glasses, including see to find my glasses, and my focal distance with no correction is about 4 inches in front of my face. I wear contacts and it’s a good job I do, as I am now so old I need reading glasses to wear over the top of them because my close vision has deteriorated as well!

-5.5 and -5.75
wouldnt even get up to go the loo in the night without my specs. I didn’t even know you could go double digits!

I do think it’s a bit unfair that you get more long sighted as you get older.

-8 / -7.5 which has been stable for 20ish years - but high pressures so I trundle down to the eye clinic every 3 months to fail the visual field test. My dad and sister both have/had glaucoma.

Top end of normal for eye pressures is 20 and mine is 18 so they won't prescribe drops, they would rather monitor.

About -7.50 in each eye, now with some long sight, always with astigmatism.

I wore contact lenses from 16 until about 45 when my eyes got drier (although I never had problems with monthlies) and I needed reading glasses as well and frequently forgot them so threw in the towel and went for varifocals. None of my friends of around my age, wear contacts any more.

I need my glasses from the moment I wake up.

What irks is that good quality varifocals and lens thinning adds hundreds of pounds to the price. Last time I got new sunglasses on a half price deal and the bill was either £1032 or £1132 - and the bastards told me if I needed a bag to queue up at the cash tills and buy one for 10p. Boots. What do people on tight budgets do.

Sympathies to all on the thread who have significantly worse eyesight or no vision at all