How Much Can Glasses Do?!

[Scarlett]

I am short sighted and have worn glasses for many years. Now I'm older (43) I am finding it harder to read small print with my glasses on. I have to lift them up to read even medium small print, such as ingredients on food packaging. Is this just old age or do I need to get new glasses- can this be rectified with new specs or will I need bifocals?!

[ducksie]

you need to get a regular eyetest and your optician will decide, usually your prescription lense is just adjusted to suit. How long have you had your current pair of specs, you may be overdue an eyetest

[Buenchico]

You simply need varifocals (plus a bit of patience to get used to them!).

To prepare you for the change, I suggest reading this:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Question1225303.html

[bibblebub]

i put it down to getting older. For most of my life I just used a single pair of glasses; then several years ago they were no longer good enough but varifocals worked - for a couple of years, and now I have separate glasses for reading and distance. But whilst the reading pair are ok at a distance of 1-2 ft I do find it easier to to remove them when it comes to reading smaller print.

[shaneystar2]

I've got twenty odd years on you Scarlett and have worn specs since I was five years .Extremely short sighted with astigmatism .I had this problem and at one time had two pairs ,one for reading and one for normal looking about I used to have to juggle them in shops and whilst doing any handicrafts while watching TV .
Varifocals are the way to go .I can see practically everything .Some print though is so tiny I defy anyone with 20/20 vision to read it and keep a little magnifier in my bag just in case.

[DaisyNonna]

Am long-sighted and have been using glasses for a few years now for reading. Recently I picked up a book and started reading, not realising I hah not put on my glasses. No problem reading. ???

[Jeza]

I got Vari's and the optician said she would change then if I couldn't get on with them. I took to them immediately, best thing I ever did

[craft1948]

Varifocals made me vomit.......

[andy-hughes]

I too am short-sighted, and about five years ago, I found I needed reading glasses as well.

I have two pairs, one at work, one at home, and swapping them doesn't bother me in the slightest. I am not sure I would get on with varifocals - I work at a computer all day, so look straight ahead, which may not correct my vision as needed there.

[Jeza]

Just shows we are all different craft.

[craft1948]

Absolutely Jeza, I thought they would be excellent, they actually made me ill and fall over.

[Jeza]

My Dad got Bi-focals when they were new, and then fell down the stairs. It was a long time ago.

[Mamyalynne]

I thought the most interesting thing was your thread title

"How Much Can Glasses Do?!"

It is quite incredible what they can do - without mine, I could not leave the house and would lose what independence I have.


I do know I am an extreme case , with a lens strength of minus 20.

[Mosaic]

Another solution that I have heard praised by its user is to use an e-reader lots, because you can enlarge the text easily. I think an ipad or other tablet type computer will also allow you to do this although they function differently to e-readers.

[SMP]

It is an age thing, look up Presbyopia. I have varifocals and still need to take them off to see very small print.

[gina32]

stylax, what difference does the price make?

[themorrigan]

I too had the problem of being short-sighted and not being able to read with my contact lenses or glasses on. I now have varifocals for everyday wear but contacts or normal glasses for sports, as varifocals were making me feel sea sick when doing swimming or horseriding. BTW -my varifocals cost £450 but they have a special frame and transition lenses.