Contacts? Age related mild eyesight degeneration

Contacts? Age related mild eyesight degeneration

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Discussion

Julietbravo

Original Poster:

216 posts

95 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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So about 6 years ago (45yo) I realised I was struggling to read road signs at a distance; the text would be slightly out of focus and I had headaches after long days staring at a screen.

In short, I needed glasses, but a really mild prescription. I went for reading glasses and a second set for driving and long distance work. This was fine but over the last 6 years the need for reading glasses has intensified and whereas before I could read the date on a watch and small text on a phone without glasses, now my arms are not long enough to allow my eyes to focus and it takes effort. I don't need glasses for day to day, and can drive without them, but it takes effort. In a supermarket where everything is 6' away, I don't wear them as I have to lift them up to read the labels.

So, my question is what now? I don't want to have to put reading glasses on every time I want to read my watch, but don't know enough about how contacts work. If I get contacts to allow me to see my watch, will it mean I need to wear specs day-to-day to focus everything outside 3' away? How does it work? Please excuse my naivety.

I do alot of swimming if that makes a difference with the contacts.


elanfan

5,527 posts

232 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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Investigate laser eye surgery

Julietbravo

Original Poster:

216 posts

95 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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They're not that bad and have not settled down - I think I would need it again in another 5 years.

Cuoco

8,969 posts

213 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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Julietbravo said:
I do alot of swimming if that makes a difference with the contacts.
I used to wear my contacts all the time swimming (thought this was a massive benefit), but have now learnt that you're not meant to do this so don't any more (not that I swim often now).

aquarianone

498 posts

182 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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Probably worth asking your local Specsavers about Varifocal lenses (or glasses if you prefer them)

mike9009

7,431 posts

248 months

Wednesday 8th September 2021
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Get a watch with larger numbers!!

I think you can get varifocal contacts......

Mr Tidy

23,797 posts

132 months

Thursday 9th September 2021
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I went straight to contact lenses in the 1980s because I didn't want glasses!

And I have had them ever since, although if I'm not going anywhere I wear glasses now as it's cheaper (I'm retired).

But for the last 18 months or so I have used my Varifocal contacts whenever I expect to need to wear a mask to avoid steaming up! They work fine for driving and reading the dashboard, TV or reading a book. And being dailies you don't need to spend money on cleaning solutions. I get 10 pairs a month for £15.33.

I know it's not recommended but if I go swimming I wear them so I can see the end of the pool, but bin them when I get out and wear glasses to drive home!

I wondered about laser correction, but as you age your vision is likely to change so that seems unlikely to be a permanent solution.


Rockets7

379 posts

135 months

Thursday 9th September 2021
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I use multi focal lenses, sorts out reading plus distance. Took me a week or so to sus them out.

StevieBee

13,349 posts

260 months

Thursday 9th September 2021
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Up until around 2 years ago, I wore contacts (disposable) and reading glasses for computer work and reading. Worked fine but I noticed a slight change in my eyesight. I forget the metrics but my right eye is the worse, the left not so much.

Optician suggested wearing just one contact in the right eye. Took a few days to get used to it but worked a treat and no need for readers.

About 18 months ago, I found that my eye sight had changed again to the point where I no longer use contacts and only reading glasses for work and reading. Distance is fine.

I did try varifocals and really would not recommend these.

abzmike

9,086 posts

111 months

Thursday 9th September 2021
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56 here and I’ve been using contacts for over 30 years, the last 6 with varifocals. I don’t have a strong prescription for either long or short sightedness (-2/+2 and -2.5/+2) but they are great. The work by fooling the eyes and the brain works it out - amazing really. I wear them for 8 till 11 with no issues. Now on monthly disposables, very comfortable and very few issues (just occasional dryness) over the years.

Boringvolvodriver

9,842 posts

48 months

Thursday 9th September 2021
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As a long standing contact lens wearer- it had a similar dilemma and ended up with monthly varifocal contact lenses which worked very well until I got older (now 61) when I found my eyes were drying out a lot more.

I now don’t wear contacts that much but when I do, I have daily multi focal ones which are not quite as good (I have an astigmatism) but do the job