Trouble reading the small print?
You’re somewhere in your 40’s, and you begin to notice the small print is getting a little harder to read. So you hold your phone, or the menu, or the instructions for your anti-aging face cream, a little further away. Then, after a while, reading in general becomes a nuisance. You’re now holding everything at arms length to read it, and apparently your arms just aren’t long enough any more.
Am I getting old?
The problem is Presbyopia, or age-related long sightedness. It’s part of the normal vision changes we all experience as we age – yay! It is caused by a natural hardening of the eye lens, so that by the early 40’s it does not respond as well to the muscles intended to change the focus of the eye.
So sorry to be the first to tell you, but yes, you’re getting older. And suddenly you’re thinking the R-word. Reading glasses. OK that’s two words, but let’s not be pedantic.
Don’t Panic! Reading Glasses are not your only option.
Monovision corrects for distance vision in one eye and near vision in the other eye
Contact lenses – the easygoing alternative to reading glasses
Did you know that contact lenses can be prescribed as an alternative to reading glasses? A great option to try is monovision, which corrects for distance vision in one eye and near vision in the other eye.
If your distance vision remains good (lucky you), then with monovision you might only need to wear a contact lens in one eye instead of wearing reading glasses. Your brain is smart and both eyes still work together, allowing you to see clearly at any distance without you even giving it a thought. That’s a very simple solution to never losing your reading glasses!
The onset of Presbyopia is particularly frustrating if you already wear contact lenses for distance and want to continue seeing clearly up close without adding reading glasses. In this situation monovision requires wearing a contact lens that corrects only distance vision in one eye, and wearing another lens that corrects only near vision in the other eye. Once again, your brain ensures both eyes still work together without you even being aware of it.
Multifocal contact lenses are also available, and may be also be considered as an option.
Whatever your lifestyle and preferences, your optometrist Andrew Greer will find the right reading solution for you. To explore using contact lenses instead of reading glasses, book an appointment online or contact us on 02 6766 2544.
