Are you struggling to read your phone or the back of a shampoo bottle?
Have you found yourself stretching your arms just to bring text into focus?
You’re not alone! And the good news is there are easy solutions that can have you seeing like you’re in your 20s again!
In this article, you’ll learn what presbyopia is, why it occurs, and what you can do about it, including the 4 (or 5!) best options to reclaim the vision of your youth!
When Presbyopia Creeps In…
So, you’re in your 40s and you’re getting on okay in life. You might not be perfect but you’ve generally got your act together. You know who you are. You’ve got a reputation, a personality, you might even have a “look”.
But then something strange happens that catches you unaware.
You have to hold your phone further away to read it, but think it’s just because you’re tired.
Reading your kids a bedtime story becomes a struggle. Menus at your favourite restaurant seem oddly dim. At work, someone hands you an Excel spreadsheet to read, but what insanely small font size did they use to create this thing?
You think: “What’s happening to me? I used to have great eyesight!”
Welcome to the wonderful world of presbyopia!
Presbyopia Explained: What It Is and Why It Happens
Presbyopia literally means ‘old eye’ or ‘old sight’ and is often incorrectly called “long-sightedness” as we need “longer arms” to see things at close range more clearly (long-sightedness, or hypermetropia, is a completely different optical problem to presbyopia).
Presbyopia is a natural, time-related change to the eye’s ‘auto-focus’ mechanism.
It’s completely normal and happens to us all.
The lens inside our eye changes shape, allowing us to focus on near and far and vice versa – think of it like the auto-focus on a camera lens.
When we’re young, the lens inside the eye is flexible – think of it as being a bit like a Jelly Baby – it’s soft and squishy.
As we get older, the lens starts to harden and becomes less flexible, which we then experience as difficulty focusing on things up-close, such as reading. Instead of the lens being soft and flexible, it’s starting to harden-up to become more like a Werther’s Original.
Can You Prevent Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is a simple fact of life, just like paying taxes and getting grey hair and wrinkles. It comes to us all!
Some people may experience the symptoms of presbyopia earlier than others, whilst other folks may be lucky and not notice any significant problems until their late-40s or even early-50s, but eventually we all experience the effects of presbyopia.
The good news? There are excellent options available to help you to see clearly and comfortably again – your Optometrist and Dispensing Optician can help you find the right choice for you.
4 (Or 5!) Best Lens Options for Presbyopia
Let’s explore the top 4 or 5 solutions that can help you read clearly and comfortably again so you can live life without eyestrain and blurry vision.
Option 1 – Reading glasses
Simple, effective and the lowest-priced solution, single vision reading glasses provide clear, comfortable vision for close-up tasks such as reading or crafts.
Option 2 – Antifatigue/Digital Lenses
A great option for early stages of presbyopia who require some help for close-work eg reading, using their smartphone etc, but also need the convenience of clear and comfortable distance vision. They’re also ideal for younger wearers who may be very ‘device heavy’ with prolonged periods looking at a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
Option 3 – Indoor/office lenses
Perfect for people who work on screens and/or are multi-tasking in indoor environments such as the home or office.
Unlike single vision reading glasses, which only provide clear vision at a fixed reading distance, indoor/office lenses allow for an extended range of clear vision, from reading to 1m to 4m away.
This is an ideal choice for wearers in an office or indoor setting, allowing them to read, work at the computer or laptop, and see well enough to see colleagues or walk around the office or home without having to take the glasses on and off all the time.
They also have lots of other uses outside the ‘office’ or ‘work’ environment, such as the kitchen or doing the weekly supermarket shop. They’re also a great choice for specific hobbies or past-times such as playing music or painting/artwork.
Option 4 – Varifocal lenses
Varifocals offer an all-in-one solution, providing clear, comfortable vision for distance, intermediate/mid-range, and near in one single lens. Highly convenient for everyday life. Say goodbye to being on and off with multiple pairs of glasses!
Option 5 – A Combination of Lenses
Just like a mechanic has more than one spanner in their toolbox, you might need more than one pair of glasses. Many of our clients wear varifocals most of the time, and a second pair (such as an indoor/office pair) for work or hobbies.
Why Would I Need More Than One Pair?
Different situations call for different optical solutions. For instance, someone working at multiple screens all day might benefit from a dedicated pair of office/indoor lenses as well as having varifocals for everyday use. The indoor/office lens ensures maximum comfort and clear vision – without neck strain or poor posture from trying to find the ‘sweet-spot’ for the screen in a varifocal lens, where the area dedicated to the mid-distance is likely to be more restricted.
At Clarke & Roskrow, we take the time to fully understand your lifestyle and vision needs and make appropriate recommendations so that you have all the options available to make an informed decision with confidence.
Conclusion
You now understand what presbyopia is and why your vision has started to change.
It’s entirely normal, natural, and comes to us all eventually.
Luckily there are multiple ways to address it. Whether you go for varifocals, office/indoor lenses, or simple reading glasses, the right solution for you is out there.
Want help figuring out what’s best for you? Book an eye examination and/or eyewear styling consultation at Clarke & Roskrow Styling Opticians – we’ll help you to see better, look better, and embrace life clearly through every season.
