I think I need glasses.

How quickly did you go from not needing them to stealing your wife’s glasses for tricky stuff?
Last year I could thread a needle no problem but this year I have to rely on luck. With Mrs Zip’s specs it’s back to an easy job.
Even worse, reading the mag this month I was having to hold it at arms length. I’m sure last months issue wasn’t a problem. Do your eyes really go downhill that quickly?

Worth having a test every few years, They don’t just pick up the need for glasses.

Yup!

Braille keyboard Neil?

Mine have gone downhill surprisingly quickly.

I’m 44 and spend the last 8 years in a desk job. I was always on the tools previously but this did involve ‘close work’ in a few roles.

About a year ago I decided to get an eye test as I was struggling reading the kids stories of an evening. I either needed to get glasses or longer arms. I was ok for most of the day but noticed I was struggling after a day in front of the screen.

I got some mild reading glasses, only used them when I started to get tired each day and only then to sharpen the focus rather than being totally dependent on them. One year on and I cannot read s**t without them. Where I needed them for anything less than 2 feet away, this is now up to 4 feet. I have my phone set to big letters, much to the amusement of Mrs W and cannot read it without the glasses now.

Harsh but hey, all the time Boots are selling them nice and cheap its no real drama.

Yes. Long sightedness can creep up very rapidly, so it is not unusual.

Trombone arms?

My near vision dropped off a cliff at about 50/51 (think I lasted a bit longer than some). PITA frankly* and if there was a treatment that didn’t cost the earth I’d consider it.

* Not as bad a being shortsighted and doing lots of watersports though – fixed that with laser treatment 13 years ago, still great.

I’m 51 next week. Bang on schedule!

I’ve gone the other way in the last year and now have to take off my glasses for any close up work.

I’ve gone the other way in the last year and now have to take off my glasses for any close up work.

Me too (48) – I now have standard glasses for general use and a pair of near/middle vision varifocals for desk work however I still prefer to take glasses off altogether for really close work.

I’ve had reading/ working glasses for about 5 years now, as well as normal vision glasses (for over 40 years), and after my retinal detachment last summer a pair of prescription sunglasses.
I’m miserably thinking about having to get varifocals, my optician was trying to get me to go for them at my last eye test in November, I’ll probably be getting a pair this year after my next eye test.

If you drive and you know something’s not quite right with your eyes then get it sorted.