I guess I need glasses! :(

[Melanie]

My eyesight is something I've always taken for granted, as it's been perfect my whole life. So I'm almost 41 now, and in the last six months I've noticed things up close are now blurry. Something has to be at least a foot away in order for me to read it. Waaaah - I guess it's time for a visit to the doctor.

I'm getting old!

[Disney Hungarian]

I have the same problem. I have been blessed with 20/13 vision. But, I can no longer focus on things within arms reach. I went to the optometrist and had my eyes checked. He suggested I try reading glasses instead of writing me a prescription. I am able to read again. Yay!

[disneymom15]

I'm in the same boat as you, only I'm almost 51.
I made it to about 49 before I noticed things looking blurry. I found a good pair of readers did the trick for me.

[Melanie]

Glad I'm not the only one.

Okay then, maybe I'll just try some reading glasses.

[Altair]

Start with 1.25 magnifacation lenses first, that usually does the trick.

[RockinRobin]

This is funny I take my glasses off to see up close I have worn glasses many years s and I find I take my glasses off more often to read or do things up close.

[Carol]

I always had wonderful vision until I hit my 40's, Mel. I too had trouble with short arms. It was fairly sudden too.

Start with 1.25 magnifacation lenses first, that usually does the trick.

That's what I did and still do. My vision is still wonderful when items are a few feet+ away.

[caryrae]

I am surprised I haven't needed any glasses yet. Both parents have them and both my brother and sister do. I am 37 and don't remember ever going to an eye doctor, is that something that would be a good thing to do even if nothing is wrong?

[azdisneymom]

I'm getting old!

Old is when they say the 'b' word - bifocals.

[Scar]

I'm almost 41 now, ...

I was "lucky" enough to make it four more years than you. I just started needing them 6 months ago but the odd thing is I don't always need them. Some days are better than others, later in the day is usually better than early.

My Brother is 2 1/2 years older than me and doesn't need them. My Uncle is 80 and has never needed them but my Father (his Brother) has needed them since 40. Go figure.

[Basket Mommy]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't just get some readers. Go see an optometrist. An eye exam can find so many more things wrong with you than just your vision needs correcting.

My husband is an optometrist, and he has, through a simple eye exam and/or retinal picture, been able to (literally) save people's lives. People live with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc. and don't even know it. A good, thorough eye exam can tell you much more than you think!

Go get the eye exam. If you just need readers, then your eye doc will tell you what power to get. My husband does that all the time for people who just need reading glasses; he says, "Go to the pharmacy and get this power, because it's cheaper for you than getting a custom pair."

A basic eye exam (for glasses, not contacts) will run you around $75, if that much. My husband is the eye doc at our local Wal Mart. They do have quality docs there, despite what you might think of Wal Mart ; ) WM, Target, some Sam's and Costcos offer eye exams for less than a solo practice doc, and you can usually see a doc at a chain much more quickly than you can someone in solo or group practice. Just a suggestion.

Either way, PLEASE go see an eye doctor. An exam is recommended every 2 years from childhood through age 39. Once you turn 40, you should really be "seeing" an eye doctor every year (pardon the pun).

[Daisy'sMom]

I would make sure that you see an opthamologist (MD of the eye), try to find one fellowship trained if you have a problem or an optometrist at least once a year so they can check your eye pressure. Glaucoma is silent but dangerous, blinding many people. I have worked for many years at an eye surgery center and have seen many people, young and old suffer from this terrible disease.

[SBETigg]

I went with my husband to pick out his new frames just yesterday. He started wearing glasses last year. He's 45. I was thinking that I will probably need some soon, too. I'm 42. I can see close and far, but my vision gets blurry if I read for a long time. The good news is that there are so many really cute frames out there. I found a few that I would like if I had to start wearing them. Of course, the bad news is the getting older and needing them, and the cost. Not cheap. Sorry, Melanie.

[Melanie]

Ah well, it's alright. At least waning eyesight as I get older is better than the alternative.

Yes, I will definitely go to the doctor soon. I'm embarrassed to say I've never been to an eye doctor of any kind. It's actually never been recommended to me (but we'll keep our thoughts to ourselves regarding military medicine ).

[Carol]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't just get some readers. Go see an optometrist.

I did. He was the one that recommended the readers.

[magicofdisney]

Ah well, it's alright. At least waning eyesight as I get older is better than the alternative.

Yes, I will definitely go to the doctor soon. I'm embarrassed to say I've never been to an eye doctor of any kind. It's actually never been recommended to me (but we'll keep our thoughts to ourselves regarding military medicine ).

Don't be too hard on military medicine. I'm sure the only reason I know anything about needing a regular eye exam is because I worked with ophthalmologists for several years. I don't recall my general physician ever making a recommendation. I have the impression most general care is that way (in or out of the military).

[PAYROLL PRINCESS]

I am surprised I haven't needed any glasses yet. Both parents have them and both my brother and sister do. I am 37 and don't remember ever going to an eye doctor, is that something that would be a good thing to do even if nothing is wrong?

You absolutely should get an eye exam every two years. Some people need glasses and don't even realize thier vision is blurry. Not to mention all the other reasons another poster mentioned. I've had more eye problems in the past few years than in my whole life. Don't be surprised if they also want to dilate your eyes. Bring sunglasses just in case.

It's better to just go and make sure everything is ok.

[Ed]

Professional eye exams are definitely advisable. That said....

My eyes started playing tricks on me in my late 40's (about a hundred years ago ) and I got prescription glasses for several years; I only needed them for close-up work and reading.

About two years ago, I had an eye injury - sliver of metal in the eye - that required a few trips to an eye surgeon. She asked me why I bothered with expensive prescription glasses, and suggested I just buy readers at WalMart. I've been doing that ever since. Kinda nice to be able to afford new style glasses every couple of months.

And she also tipped me off on the #1 culprit in deteriorating eyesight these days - - the computer !

[Melanie]

And she also tipped me off on the #1 culprit in deteriorating eyesight these days - - the computer !

Yeah, my hubby pointed that out to me too.

[bostonsam]

I'm supposed to of gotten them when I went to my last eye appointment but have never filled the prescriptionI'm going to eventually