Watch Out – It's the First Thing to Go!
Are your arms getting too short to read the newspaper? Do you keep a magnifying glass handy in the kitchen to read those food labels? It's okay. You're not alone.
Of course I'm referring to our vision changing as we age. I remember when holding the paper at a distance just didn't work anymore and I broke down and bought a pair of reading glasses to wear with my contact lenses. I wasn't just near-sighted, I was far-sighted as well! Now I keep a pair of reading glasses in my purse, in the kitchen, by the computer, even in the bathroom (everyone reads in the bathroom, right?).
According to Aetna InteliHealth, this type of vision change is a natural part of aging that happens as a result of the lenses in our eyes becoming inflexible. This condition is called presbyopia and you can recognize it from the following symptoms :
- Words appear blurred at a reading distance that used to be comfortable.
- Reading material or other objects must be held farther away from your eyes to gain clarity or see details.
- Brighter light is needed to see clearly (bright light constricts the pupils, which changes the focus of the light on the retina).
- You have difficulty reading late at night, or when you are tired or stressed.
- Your eyes become uncomfortable, or you become tired or drowsy when doing close work because of the strain of eye muscles working to change the lens shape.
- You may have headaches as a result of muscle tension.
If your eyes are starting to play these middle-aged tricks on you, it's probably just a normal process, but visit your eye professional to be sure. My eye doctor told me that it is perfectly fine to use the inexpensive reading glasses that are so readily available these days, but he also prescribed wonderful new glasses for me with a graduated lens that handles my extreme nearsightedness at the top, enables me to see the computer at a middle distance, and allows me to easily see to read that small print again through the bottom of the lens. Bifocals aren't ugly anymore! Neither are reading glasses, so grab yourself a groovy pair, relax those arms, and read in comfort again.
Adapted from Aging Baby Boomers
Photo credit: Chiacomo
Susan52 is a baby boomer and a giant squid on Squidoo who enjoys blogging and building a business in her pj's. Follow Susan52 on Twitter. Join her fan club on Squidoo.
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I hear you. Went in for a vision exam and they suggested BIFOCALS for me. I'm too young to be this old! *lol*