Suddenly needing glasses later in life
Discussion
I've been a bit bleary-eyed in work lately which to be honest I've put down to lack of sleep. However, work pays for an eye test every 2 years and I'd never taken it up, so I thought it was about time to do so. Bugger, I apparently need "reading" glasses. Took the prescription to another shop to check and yes it's right, and apparently it's a pretty bad one too - though my long range sight is excellent and I'm still OK to drive. I hadn't had a proper optician's test for at least 20 years, though I'd had the doctor's one at various medicals which puts me better than 20/20 vision.
I've just ordered 2 pairs, complete with the expensive non-glare lenses recommended for VDU work, but boy do I look even older than my advanced years in glasses! People will be mistaking me for Elizabeth Sprigg if I go out in the street wearing them. It's totally pants. Seriously, I could pass for someone's headmistress.
I've been told it's probably the 8-10 hours a day (or more) working with a VDU that's done it. Probably the previous work with stereo microscopes didn't help, nor reading under the covers with a torch until 4 am most nights as a kid.
I've just ordered 2 pairs, complete with the expensive non-glare lenses recommended for VDU work, but boy do I look even older than my advanced years in glasses! People will be mistaking me for Elizabeth Sprigg if I go out in the street wearing them. It's totally pants. Seriously, I could pass for someone's headmistress.
I've been told it's probably the 8-10 hours a day (or more) working with a VDU that's done it. Probably the previous work with stereo microscopes didn't help, nor reading under the covers with a torch until 4 am most nights as a kid.
oldbanger said:
I've been told it's probably the 8-10 hours a day (or more) working with a VDU that's done it. Probably the previous work with stereo microscopes didn't help, nor reading under the covers with a torch until 4 am most nights as a kid.
That's probably not correct, more likely it's just your age. I'm the same, I had good long and short vision but was recommended glasses for an astigmatism in my left eye. I then found I couldn't read my work notes when it was dark or poor light and later had difficulty seeing what was on the PC monitor. So I then needed reading glasses and now I find driving easier with distance glasses. The optician says it's normal deterioration with age and I will have to live with it, it's part of getting old. Join the club 
I got to 44 and found I was having problems reading too, after never having to wear any before. Put it down to these new lightbulbs we are meant to use initially, as they put out sh!te light and I noticed the problem most in the evening. Then I couldn't read the text on my PDA/phone even in daylight. So a trip to the optician to say I need specs and I bought a phone with big text and big buttons an LG KF300
I got to 44 and found I was having problems reading too, after never having to wear any before. Put it down to these new lightbulbs we are meant to use initially, as they put out sh!te light and I noticed the problem most in the evening. Then I couldn't read the text on my PDA/phone even in daylight. So a trip to the optician to say I need specs and I bought a phone with big text and big buttons an LG KF300Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 5th September 20:58
jagracer said:
oldbanger said:
I've been told it's probably the 8-10 hours a day (or more) working with a VDU that's done it. Probably the previous work with stereo microscopes didn't help, nor reading under the covers with a torch until 4 am most nights as a kid.
That's probably not correct, more likely it's just your age. I'm the same, I had good long and short vision but was recommended glasses for an astigmatism in my left eye. I then found I couldn't read my work notes when it was dark or poor light and later had difficulty seeing what was on the PC monitor. So I then needed reading glasses and now I find driving easier with distance glasses. The optician says it's normal deterioration with age and I will have to live with it, it's part of getting old. Oh well, apparently it's going to at least a week before I get them.
The last 2 years has seen my reading vision plummet, especially if it is a bit gloomy. One thing I have noticed is my night vision isn't as good as it used to be as well, I am a bit of a stargazer and things I could easily find take a bit more work now even though I have a darker location - is this just the fact that the iris doesn't open as much when you get older(46)?
tonyvid said:
The last 2 years has seen my reading vision plummet, especially if it is a bit gloomy. One thing I have noticed is my night vision isn't as good as it used to be as well, I am a bit of a stargazer and things I could easily find take a bit more work now even though I have a darker location - is this just the fact that the iris doesn't open as much when you get older(46)?
It's all to do with how the muscles in your body stretch, or don't when you get older. Apparently It's the same for the eye muscles and that's why your sight deteriorates, I find it all quite depressing, I'm 53 next month so I fully expect to have the eyesight of Mr Magoo when I'm 63.
Does anyone find that artificial light screws with their vision?
I spent my first 8 years working under fluorescent light for 90% of the time, and at night my vision was crap. I changed jobs and was working outdoors/in natural light, and my vision returned to proper normal.
In recent months, I've been working under fluorescent light again, and I have noticed greater difficulty reading smallprint under artificial light.
I'm 43, and have never worn glasses, and pass my annual race licence medical sight test with ease.
With the move towards these tree hugging lightbulbs, I can see the manufacturers of corrective glasses reaping big profits in years to come!
What do the experts think?
I spent my first 8 years working under fluorescent light for 90% of the time, and at night my vision was crap. I changed jobs and was working outdoors/in natural light, and my vision returned to proper normal.
In recent months, I've been working under fluorescent light again, and I have noticed greater difficulty reading smallprint under artificial light.
I'm 43, and have never worn glasses, and pass my annual race licence medical sight test with ease.
With the move towards these tree hugging lightbulbs, I can see the manufacturers of corrective glasses reaping big profits in years to come!
What do the experts think?
I picked up my glasses on Saturday and used them properly (i.e. intensively) for the first time today.
Reading of text has slightly improved, but what is surprising is that the glasses shift everything a cm ot two to the right. It's got me wondering if that's why I've always had a tendency to clip doorframes with my right shoulder.
Firstly, they leave marks on the bridge of my nose - any way of preventing this? Ideally I need to take them off to get up and walk around (and definitely need them off to drive).
Secondly, I was fine wearing them, but having worn them most of the day, I actually started feeling sick and got a headache when I took them off to go home. This eventually wore off. Is this normal?
Reading of text has slightly improved, but what is surprising is that the glasses shift everything a cm ot two to the right. It's got me wondering if that's why I've always had a tendency to clip doorframes with my right shoulder.
Firstly, they leave marks on the bridge of my nose - any way of preventing this? Ideally I need to take them off to get up and walk around (and definitely need them off to drive).
Secondly, I was fine wearing them, but having worn them most of the day, I actually started feeling sick and got a headache when I took them off to go home. This eventually wore off. Is this normal?
Depending on how bad your eyes were, reading text should be vastly improved although I can no longer read text without glasses now so anything is better than nothing.
They can take some getting used to and depending on your prescription things can alter dramatically when you first put them on. When I had my first pair of glasses around 20 years ago it took me around 10 to 20 minutes to get used to them and about 10 minutes to refocus when I took them off. It may however be that your prescription is too strong and they are over magnifying everything. If you don't settle down with them after say seven days you should go back to the optician and get them checked.
They can take some getting used to and depending on your prescription things can alter dramatically when you first put them on. When I had my first pair of glasses around 20 years ago it took me around 10 to 20 minutes to get used to them and about 10 minutes to refocus when I took them off. It may however be that your prescription is too strong and they are over magnifying everything. If you don't settle down with them after say seven days you should go back to the optician and get them checked.
oldbanger said:
I picked up my glasses on Saturday and used them properly (i.e. intensively) for the first time today.
Reading of text has slightly improved, but what is surprising is that the glasses shift everything a cm ot two to the right. It's got me wondering if that's why I've always had a tendency to clip doorframes with my right shoulder.
Firstly, they leave marks on the bridge of my nose - any way of preventing this? Ideally I need to take them off to get up and walk around (and definitely need them off to drive).
Secondly, I was fine wearing them, but having worn them most of the day, I actually started feeling sick and got a headache when I took them off to go home. This eventually wore off. Is this normal?
Reminds me of when I first started to wear my glasses. I regularly missed when reaching for door handles, much to the amusement of work colleagues. This quickly went away though as I got used to them.Reading of text has slightly improved, but what is surprising is that the glasses shift everything a cm ot two to the right. It's got me wondering if that's why I've always had a tendency to clip doorframes with my right shoulder.
Firstly, they leave marks on the bridge of my nose - any way of preventing this? Ideally I need to take them off to get up and walk around (and definitely need them off to drive).
Secondly, I was fine wearing them, but having worn them most of the day, I actually started feeling sick and got a headache when I took them off to go home. This eventually wore off. Is this normal?
They shouldn't leave any significant marks on you if they have been properly fitted. I would pop back to the opticians and get them to tweak the frames for you.
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