Presbyopia is the gradual loss of the ability to focus on close-up objects. Different from nearsightedness or farsightedness, which are caused by genetic or environmental changes to the eyeball’s shape, presbyopia is believed to be the result of thickening and loss of flexibility in the eye’s lens due to age. It is a very common problem, affecting more than a billion people over age 40 worldwide. Presbyopia often begins in the early 40s and continues to worsen until the mid-60s. Reading glasses are a simple and inexpensive solution to this difficulty, but many people are unsure if they need them. Here are 6 easy ways to tell.
Headaches
Eye strain is a common cause for headaches, and presbyopia causes the eyes to become fatigued more quickly, especially when reading or focusing on close-up tasks. If you have started to develop frequent headaches and tired eyes while performing detail work, it might be time for reading glasses.
Books
Humans have an immense capacity to cope with challenges. Since presbyopia comes on gradually, you might not even realize that you are making corrections. One of the most common coping strategies is to hold a book slightly further away than you did when you were younger. As presbyopia worsens, though, at some point you will realize that your arms are too short for your eyes! If you are holding books at arms’ length and they still seem blurry, it is definitely time to look into reading glasses.
Food
A common sign of presbyopia is the inability to clearly distinguish food on a plate. If you are wondering how your eyes are doing, look down at your plate during your next meal. Can you see the individual peas and carrots? Can you tell if the chicken is evenly breaded? If all you see are fuzzy piles of food, reading glasses might be in your future.
Daily Life
Presbyopia affects numerous tasks in daily life. Do you ask someone else to thread needles for you? Do you have trouble keeping up with what you have in your hand during a card game? Perhaps you have difficulty reading food labels or candy thermometers. Make a hard analysis of your daily life to determine whether you have begun to compensate for the inability to clearly see close-up work.
Diopter Test
A diopter test has a series of text lines printed at a gradually increasing scale. Each line is marked with a specific reading glasses strength. The first line that you can read clearly without any glasses corresponds to the strength you should select. If you are undecided between two strengths, choose the lower power. Our diopter test lets you select your readers with ease.
Vision Exam
Of course, there is no substitute for a comprehensive vision exam by an eye care professional. Experts generally agree that if you are in good health and have no known vision problems, you should have your eyes examined once every five years before the age of 40, a baseline exam at 40, and a full assessment every two to four years between 40 and 65. Older adults should have an eye exam at least every two years due to an increased risk for such conditions as glaucoma and cataracts. Health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, as well as current vision problems or a family history of eye disease, could mean more frequent examinations. Talk to your eye doctor to determine the schedule that is right for you.
Presbyopia affects virtually everyone at some point during the aging process. When it hits and how severe it becomes, however, is highly individual. If you have begun to notice changes in your close-up vision or compensatory behaviors, check your eyes with a diopter test. In many cases, inexpensive and fashionable reading glasses are a simple solution to this annoying problem. If you experience pain, floaters, or other eye problems, make an appointment with an eye doctor right away.
Since 1995, the family-owned and operated Affordable Fashion Readers has been providing comfortable, high quality, fashionable reading glasses at prices you can afford. All of our eyewear has been tested and personally approved by a member of our team. Take the first step toward clearer vision today!