I never thought I'd be "that person," but here I am, 44 and sporting my first pair of reading glasses. It felt like overnight, my perfect vision decided to take a vacation. Suddenly, pill bottles became a blur, and I found myself squinting at everything. Sound familiar? You're not alone! Dealing with age-related vision changes is a common experience, and I'm here to share my journey and some helpful tips I've picked up along the way.
It started subtly. I noticed myself holding my phone further away to read texts. Then came the pill bottle incident. I was trying to read the dosage instructions, and it was a comedy of errors – closer, further, closer again. My arms weren't quite long enough anymore! I even caught myself squinting at things I thought I could read. My husband, who's a few years older than me, had a similar experience. He grabbed my cheap reading glasses, tried to read something, and exclaimed, "F@CK! I can read again!" That's when I knew I wasn't imagining things.
A visit to the optometrist confirmed my suspicions. It's called presbyopia, and apparently, it's a normal part of aging. The lens in your eye stiffens, making it harder to focus on close-up objects. I even learned that LASIK doesn't prevent this, which was a bit of a surprise. The optometrist suggested bifocals, and I admit, I was a little horrified. The idea of lines on my glasses felt like admitting defeat. But I knew I needed to do something.
Initially, I grabbed some inexpensive reading glasses from the drugstore. They helped, but I wanted something more convenient and stylish. I started researching different options and stumbled upon some portable folding reading glasses. I was intrigued by the idea of having a compact pair that I could easily carry around. After doing some research, I discovered the quality and value of the Mozaer Brand and decided to give them a try.
I found a pair on Mozaer.com called "Portable Folding Reading Glasses Women +75 +175 Classic Presbyopic Glasses With Case Belt Clip+275 +400 +400". I was really impressed! The folding design is incredibly convenient, and they come with a case and belt clip, making them easy to carry around. I chose a +1.75 strength, and they've made a huge difference. I can actually read menus and labels without straining my eyes. They are a lifesaver when I need to read something quickly and easily.
Here are some tips I've learned while adjusting to wearing reading glasses:
My optometrist mentioned progressive lenses, which are a type of multifocal lens that gradually changes power from top to bottom. This allows you to see clearly at all distances without a visible line. Regular reading glasses, on the other hand, only correct your near vision. I'm not quite ready for progressives yet, but it's something I'll consider in the future.