Has Anyone Discovered A Need For Reading Glasses After Turning 40?

[peejay 327]

Lately, I have noted that my vision has started to "blur" when reading written material. Oddly enough, it does not occur on the computer, only on paper based text. e.g. newspapers, magazines and books.

Anyway, I had a vision test today during a physical and could only read line 7 (the largest font) on the scope. Even that was difficult.

Guess I need to see an optometrist. On that note, do most people just buy the reading glasses available in Pharmacies or do you go to an Optometrist for a prescription pair of reading glasses?

What does that cost typically?

Any insight is appreciated.

I'm 51 and have been wearing reading glasses (commonly known as cheaters) since my mid 40's. Before my vision worstened to the point of buying cheaters, I just had to move print away from my face until I could see it. Now my arms are not long enough. I cannot function without my cheaters and always carry them with me. I have several pairs stashed around the house, my car, and at my work so I never go without. At this point in my life it is impossible to read any small print without them. However, I have perfect vision to see things in the distance. I drive easily without glasses.

Sure, an optometrist can fit you with cheaters, but you will pay big $$$ for the same thing you can get at Target, Walmart, or the local pharmacy chain for $10 - $20. At the "dollar" stores I have seen them as cheap as $5 or less.

For everyday general use I carry weak +1.25 cheaters in my shirt pocket or often wear them on the end of my nose and look over the top of them when I want to see distant objects. Kind of like poor man's bifocals. That is a common technique that old timers use.

I also have stronger +1.75 cheaters that I use to read books in bed or to do really close up work for long periods of time.

My advice is to use the weakest cheaters that you can read small print with at the distance you normally read from. They are so cheap you can try out several pairs of glasses of different strengths until you decide which is best for everyday use. The low number is weakest and higher numbers are stronger. A +1.0 is a good starting point to try. Most of the cheater glasses racks at the stores have an eye chart you can use to try them out before you buy them.

[Yodrak 7]

William,

Welcome to the club! I think I was closer to 50 when I first starting noticing that I couldn't read in bed at night. I thought it was due to being too tired. Then one morning I found that I couldn't read the label on a bottle of juice at breakfast, and realized that it wasn't as simple as being tired.

Went for several years after that using cheap reading glasses from the drug store - $5-20 depending on the store - but once I started having trouble with the computer monitor I went to the optomitrist. While discussing why I was there he told me that the situation is common, enough so that he can accurately guess a person's age by the magnification number of their drugstore reading glasses.

I've got progressive lens glasses now - the bottom area of the lens a prescription for reading, the upper area plain glass for distance, and a smooth transition inbetween. I normally wear them only for reading, but it does allow me to switch back and forth between other activities when I want or need to withhout having to take them on and off. And a supply of drugstore reading glasses left in various locations around the house and in the car so that I don't have to carry the good glasses with me everywhere.

Yodrak

Lately, I have noted that my vision has started to "blur" when reading written material. Oddly enough, it does not occur on the computer, only on paper based text. e.g. newspapers, magazines and books.

Anyway, I had a vision test today during a physical and could only read line 7 (the largest font) on the scope. Even that was difficult.

Guess I need to see an optometrist. On that note, do most people just buy the reading glasses available in Pharmacies or do you go to an Optometrist for a prescription pair of reading glasses?

What does that cost typically?

Any insight is appreciated.

Edited August 11, 2007 by Yodrak

[William33 110]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

It seems that I am not alone in this issue, which is good. Needing glasses due to age is a bummer.

I had hoped to be 60 before this came up.

[rebeccajo 14]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

It seems that I am not alone in this issue, which is good. Needing glasses due to age is a bummer.

I had hoped to be 60 before this came up.

As long as you can still see if what is below your belt still works, you have nothing to fear.

[Ban Hammer 14,293]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

It seems that I am not alone in this issue, which is good. Needing glasses due to age is a bummer.

I had hoped to be 60 before this came up.

As long as you can still see if what is below your belt still works, you have nothing to fear.

becca!

[Tinker 0]

Just took my daughter threw McDonald's drive thru....and I couldn't even read the menu sign..

And yes I have reading glasses, somewhere. I have the full prescription for bifocals, but I've tried them 2 years ago and couldn't see anything at all

[a-jeanne 2]

I have simply refused to get bifocals - I am not ready! My eye doctor has said different for the last two years. So, now I may just have to bite the bullet. I have a double edged sword that if I wear my regular glasses, I have to look over them to see something close up. Then, if I wear my contacts, then I cannot see close up - really sucks and is very frustrating and then still have to wear reading glasses with contacts. So, either way I go I cannot get away from glasses. UNTIL NOW! My doctor wants to try mono vision with me. That is where they fit you with contacts - your strongest eye for far away and your weakest eye for close up. Your body is supposed to make the adjustment and then I won't have to have "reading glasses" for close up. I'm up for it - I don't like the alternative. Lasik would be nice too but I am not so sure about that surgery yet.

[Caladan 19]

They make bifocals these days that don't have the telltale line, if that bothers you. Otherwise, they're nothing to fear. I wear contacts now, and I was put into bifocals at age eight in an effort to stop my vision from deteriorating by forcing me to use a lower prescription for closework.

[doodlebug 3]

I love this site http://www.peeperspecs.com/Products/productList.asp?DEPid=9 for reading glasses. Like most, my reading vision dropped dramatically once I hit 40. It's perfectly natural and you're right on target if it's happened to you.

I have needed glasses for nearsightedness since I was in third grade. Now when I have my normal glasses on, I cannot read unless I take them off. When I wear my contacts I have to wear my peepers, but I get them online and have several fun styles.

The distance between your eyes and the computer is a whole other ball of wax. That normally doesn't go until later, though mine is starting to weaken so my doc gave me contacts that have that part built in.

Now if I could just remember where I put my glasses I'd be all set.

[rebeccajo 14]

Doodle, those peepers are TOO CUTE!!!! I love the Santa's Helper pair!

[doodlebug 3]

Doodle, those peepers are TOO CUTE!!!! I love the Santa's Helper pair!

Aren't they adorable???? And not too bad moneywise either! Most of the time they're cheaper than the ones you find in grocery stores/pharmacies and they're tons cuter!

[William33 110]

I love this site http://www.peeperspecs.com/Products/productList.asp?DEPid=9 for reading glasses. Like most, my reading vision dropped dramatically once I hit 40. It's perfectly natural and you're right on target if it's happened to you.

I have needed glasses for nearsightedness since I was in third grade. Now when I have my normal glasses on, I cannot read unless I take them off. When I wear my contacts I have to wear my peepers, but I get them online and have several fun styles.

The distance between your eyes and the computer is a whole other ball of wax. That normally doesn't go until later, though mine is starting to weaken so my doc gave me contacts that have that part built in.

Now if I could just remember where I put my glasses I'd be all set.

Those are nice, but they won't work for me.

I was thinking of these: http://www.readinstyle.com/product/WestStr...yScojo_bla.aspx

But they are expensive, based on most advice here.

[rebeccajo 14]

65 bucks?! Ooooooooooooh William - that's too much!

Didja look at the men's glasses on doodles site? Looks like they have several pages of styles.

I have two pair of readers. I keep one at work and one here at home. I dug them out of the bargain cart at Office Depot for a buck a pair. Can't beat that.

They don't call me the Queen of Bargain Shopping for nothing!

[William33 110]

65 bucks?! Ooooooooooooh William - that's too much!

Didja look at the men's glasses on doodles site? Looks like they have several pages of styles.

I have two pair of readers. I keep one at work and one here at home. I dug them out of the bargain cart at Office Depot for a buck a pair. Can't beat that.

They don't call me the Queen of Bargain Shopping for nothing!

Good point... Check these out...

http://www.peeperspecs.com/products/produc...amp;ROOT_dept=0

Thoughts?

[rebeccajo 14]

Me like.