Wearing glasses

mantis

Hello everyone,
So when I turned 50 which was over 2 years ago, I had to start using reading glasses to read small things. Then last year I got covid, then long covid and it wrecked me for over a year. I'm much better now than back then and I'm probably 80% recovered with some things still lingering.

Anyway Since I got covid, my eye sight got worse. Could be I'm getting older , I'm now 52 and will be 53 this year and covid help speed that along.

I use to hav a 1.0 prescription reading glasses and I since moved up to a 1.25 and now a 1.50. I can still use the 1.25's but the 1.50's help a bit better.

I'm not starting to notice a slight blurry result when watching TV, and further away stuff when the lighting isn't bright. I never wore glasses my entire live and now that my vision is getting worse, it makes me a bit nervous.

I can use my reading glasses to clear up watching tv but it gives me a headache. I'm gonna have to make a eye glass doctors appointment as I think I'm gonna need to start wearing glasses full time.

This sucks.

bcwsrt

I turned 56 last month. I’ve had glasses or contacts since 7th or 8th grade and had lasik about 10 years ago to correct my near-sightedness. End result is my distance vision is honestly pretty #^+% amazing, but now I wear glasses for anything up close. I have generally used 1.5 readers practically since the lasik, but for close-up work, I need a 2.5 or higher and end up borrowing a pair of my wife’s readers.

I’m pretty sensitive to light and many times wear sunglasses even on cloudy days. But, I’ve found in the last few years that I need more light to do/see things around the house than I used to. I get eye exams each year due to being diabetic, so I just chalk that up to the effects of aging.

I’m no doctor but, yeah, it sounds like you may need bifocals. Getting old sucks.

Emlyn

Good idea to get an eye exam once a year. The shape and focus points of the eyes changes differently for different people with time. In my case I needed glasses for distance vision starting in my mid-20s and still don't need reading glasses in my mid-50s. I only realized I needed glasses when I went to a Hardees for a burger and couldn't read the menu board anymore. Reading glasses (magnifiers) shouldn't be used for distance. It's also likely that one eye is "stronger" or "weaker" than another and only an optometrist can address that so the vision is properly balanced. Eye strain can cause bad headaches.

Jimbo18

See an eye doctor. I'm 70 and have very good vision for my age. I do have glasses with progressive lenses but really only need them for close up. I usually go several years with the same prescription and didn't used to see the eye doc every year.

However, on my last visit, she found that my right eye pressure is a little high, a la glaucoma. Not bad enough yet for meds but needs to be monitored. I have to go back in 3 months.

Anyway, this isn't meant to be about me, but rather a cautionary tale to warn you there can be other issues besides weakening vision. They can photograph your retina, check eye pressure, and prescribe your new "full time" glasses.

Emlyn

Checking retina health when over 50 is really important because they can see potential problems in the earliest stages before someone knows there is a problem that can cause central vision blindness. They no longer have to dilate the eyes if they do a retinal scan and those scans and photos catch everything.

My mother worked in this field for several decades.

Willow

I'll be 48 soon and had to get reading glasses 2 yrs ago. I would rarely wear them. In the past couple months it's been getting worse. I've had to increase the size of the text on my email, when reading the web on my phone it is almost blurry unless I wear them. I'm due this year for a check up. Oh and any labels on any type of product forget about it without my glasses.

cincycat13

Yes, using readers to watch at a distance will give you a headache. Your eyes lenses become less flexible as you age. This is most likely why you need readers for up close.

I was nearsighted and wore glasses or contacts for distance for years. I had had the lasik procedure done probably 9 years ago so I could see at distance. I have started to use readers for up close. Hope you get a clean bill of health at your eye check up.

muncybob

Absolutely get an exam annually! Glaucoma was in my mother's side although she never got it. But she did have macular degeneration and on my last exam I was told it's in my future too. Nothing to worry about yet, just something to keep an eye on.

daddyjt

mantis wrote: »

…This sucks.

I’ve had to wear glasses/contacts for the last 45 years - you’ll be ok

daddyjt

bcwsrt wrote: »

…Getting old sucks.

It’s better than the alternative….

pitdogg2

Jimbo18 wrote: »

See an eye doctor. I'm 70 and have very good vision for my age. I do have glasses with progressive lenses but really only need them for close up. I usually go several years with the same prescription and didn't used to see the eye doc every year.

However, on my last visit, she found that my right eye pressure is a little high, a la glaucoma. Not bad enough yet for meds but needs to be monitored. I have to go back in 3 months.

Anyway, this isn't meant to be about me, but rather a cautionary tale to warn you there can be other issues besides weakening vision. They can photograph your retina, check eye pressure, and prescribe your new "full time" glasses.

You my friend didn't smoke enough dope......There's still time get after it....

aprazer402

On Dec 6th I tripped and fell hard on a sidewalk, did not hit my head, only scraped one knee. About an hour later I saw a new large black floater in one eye. I was seeing flashes of light in the same eye for about a week earlier.

The next day I got in to see a Retinal Specialist. Had two holes in my retina repaired with laser surgery on that day. Next exam on Feb. 14th. All done in Dr. office.

Not seeing flashes any more, floater is still there. Vision in that eye good but not 100% yet, still slightly grainy, if that's the right word.

I've been wearing bifocals for 25 years. My distance vision is not bad. Mostly need glasses for reading. Up to 2.50+ now. I'm 67. Good luck mantis.

VR3

Have to agree to go see an eye doctor

maxward

You’ve been getting good advice. The modern retinal scanners are great as compared to getting dilated. I had two retinal detachments in the ‘90s and get an annual scan, which is kind of nice when the doc shows you what’s going on in there.

mantis

Willow wrote: »

I'll be 48 soon and had to get reading glasses 2 yrs ago. I would rarely wear them. In the past couple months it's been getting worse. I've had to increase the size of the text on my email, when reading the web on my phone it is almost blurry unless I wear them. I'm due this year for a check up. Oh and any labels on any type of product forget about it without my glasses.

That's exactly how it is for me, I hate it.

nooshinjohn

57 going on 58... still no glasses.

mrbigbluelight

Glasses ✅
Alternative ❌
'bout sums it up. 🤗

Jimbo18

pitdogg2 wrote: »

Jimbo18 wrote: »

See an eye doctor. I'm 70 and have very good vision for my age. I do have glasses with progressive lenses but really only need them for close up. I usually go several years with the same prescription and didn't used to see the eye doc every year.

However, on my last visit, she found that my right eye pressure is a little high, a la glaucoma. Not bad enough yet for meds but needs to be monitored. I have to go back in 3 months.

Anyway, this isn't meant to be about me, but rather a cautionary tale to warn you there can be other issues besides weakening vision. They can photograph your retina, check eye pressure, and prescribe your new "full time" glasses.

You my friend didn't smoke enough dope......There's still time get after it....

Funny you should say that. My friend told me that it's a great excuse to do that very thing.

mantis

nooshinjohn wrote: »

57 going on 58... still no glasses.

But can you actually see?

machone

Yep, go to see the doctor and get an eye exam once a year.

smartie_panta

I agree with what most have said, to go to the doctor. I have vision insurance through my work, but if you don't, I hear the eye doctors that Costco contracts with tend to be good and very reasonably priced, if you happen to live near a Costco location.

My story is that I was one of those people who never needed glasses, despite literally everyone else in my family wearing them. Then, like (black) magic, I turned 40 and almost instantly needed them--my sight dropped off that quickly. I'm 44 now and just had to get progressives this year. My wife was like you in that her vision deteriorated so quickly in recent months, she was really worried. I reminded her how quickly mine "went," but she still wanted to consult an expert, so she saw an opthalmologist last week. He told her what she probably already knew...that she should try readers for...well... reading. But at least she got peace of mind that her eyeballs aren't self-destructing.

I'm glad you continue to be on the mend and are mostly back to your pre-COVID self. The vision stuff isn't fun.

nooshinjohn

mantis wrote: »

nooshinjohn wrote: »

57 going on 58... still no glasses.

But can you actually see?

Well enough to find Waldo… from 200 yards and send a round between the **** eyes without a scope. I would say I see just fine.😎😎😇

Must be my reward for not choking the chicken…

Milito

Always get an eye exam once a year as you get older as stated above. Issues can come on suddenly as we get older as some of us well know.

polrbehr

Similar story for me about 7 years ago - started getting bleary-eyed too easily at work, so made an appt. with ophthalmologist just to see WTF was wrong (never had any vision issues until then).
The tech who did my initial exam basically asked me how old I was - just turned 52 at the time - to which she replied with a smile "honey, what are you doin' here?" My expected reply was something like Well where should I be? She laughed and said CVS, in the reading glasses aisle, silly. Started out with 1.5x and haven't needed anything stronger yet.

Oh, and they were kind enough to do the entire Spock/Star Trek type retina burning glaucoma exam since I just happened to be there anyway; thanks for that bit o' fun. But everything was good, so no complaints.

Jimbo18

Well, big update for me. A couple months ago when I had my eye exam, they told me my right eye pressure was slightly elevated and needed to be checked again in 3 months. However, three nights ago, the pressure shot from 21 to 58. I wasn't sure that's what it was cuz it happened at bedtime and so I suffered through the night and went to the doctor the next morning.

They promptly sent me to a glaucoma specialist who, over 2 days, did 3 laser surgeries, and extracted fluid (yes with a needle) from the eye 3 separate times to relieve the pressure. It's slightly under control at the moment but I have an operation scheduled for Tuesday next week to hopefully fix it permanently.

Scary, painful stuff. Thank God I went to the appointment two months ago or I wouldn't have had any idea what was happening. Don't neglect them people, I had no idea eyes could cause that much pain.

Milito

Good luck on Tuesday! Glad you caught it in time.