I turned 40 this week and got my first reading glasses..

[Irishman]

I'm officially old goddamn it! Lately I've been finding that its a little hard to read letters close to me so I went for an eye test and it turns out my eyes are healthy but long sighted - sph +1.5 & 1.75 cyl -0.50 & -0.75
I picked up glasses today and it does make everything nice and crisp and clear but dammit i feel ready for the scrap heap haha

My lao po says i look more intelligent though so its not all bad 
Anyone else going blind in their old age too ?

[Rhonald]

I had corrective eye surgery done 3 years ago. It was the one where they reshape the whole cornea. My old vision was -5.25 and I use to wear contacts. With the reshaping of my eye I can not wear contacts anymore (cornea not the oval shape anymore) and my vision is still slightly off at about -0.25. But all the correction went into the middle part of the eye. Night vision uses the outer part that can not be reshappened so my night vision sucks and I need to wear glasses to drive at night. During daytime people's faces across the street will still be blurry and I have a tough time picking out the spin on balls when playing sports.

But like you Irish, I also have a tough time reading the fine print. So I have to be carefull when reading medication labels. I don't want to think I am taking cold medication to sleep through the night only to be awaken when I start pitching a tent.

[Vince G]

Welcome to the Over the Hill Gang.    I got my first set of glasses about 10 yrs ago (@47) I really believe the computer screens did me in. I'm far sighted so reading is blurry. Just recently driving up north I wore my glasses all the way there and back. Couldn't read the gauges and anything else on the dash? Oh well.

[Irishman]

Welcome to the Over the Hill Gang.    I got my first set of glasses about 10 yrs ago (@47) I really believe the computer screens did me in. I'm far sighted so reading is blurry. Just recently driving up north I wore my glasses all the was there and back. Couldn't read the gauges and anything else on the dash? Oh well.

Yep, the optician said that I was looking at a computer screen too long every day and that my eyes are strained as a result. I work in IT so no way to avoid that ... So its specs from now on looking at the computer. She said as long as I wear them my eyes will be better as they don't have to strain with the glasses on. I must admit my eyes feel far more "relaxed" wearing them.  Hopefully it wont get much worse!

[Chong]

I had laser eye surgery done almost ten years ago. It cost $ 6,000 ... it was the best money ever spent. I had the worst eyesight. My eyeglass lenses were a couple of mm thick. I also had astigmatism. The laser eye surgery totally corrected everything. My eyesight is now 20-20 whereas before it was in the negatives.

I'm 49 yrs old now. However, I find reading food labels and online newsprint a bit straining lately. They make it small on purpose. You're right, I'm reading less and less on the computer nowadays. On that note, I'm signing off ... hahaha.

[Jason B]

My glasses are about the same strength as yours Irishman, not much but makes such a difference that I prefer them.  One thing to be weary of though.  If your optometrist said to only wear when driving, using computer etc.  then my advice is to only wear them at those times only as the eyes will get lazy and used to the glasses and then every time you take them off everything will be a blur just like me now days.  Now I have to wear 24/7 to see.

I even have to sign a medical certificate saying that I will wear my glasses when driving the train, but I wear them all the time anyway so it is no big deal.

Maybe mum was right doing that will send me blind!

p.s. you are now 40 like me and WE are not old.........

[shaun]

Oh Ronan, you've got so much to look forward to.  The eyes are just the beginning of the decay.

I'll hit a couple of highlights and leave the rest of the discovery to you.  Just think 10 more years and you can join the Old Farts club.   Then there is erectile dysfunction.  Don't know anything about that one yet but I'll let you know.  You might ask Willy or Arnold about it if you are curious. 

Sorry Willy, Arnold, I tried but I couldn't resist.

[Neil]

I just turned 41 and my eyes are fine.  Stop trying to frighten me! 

[Rhonald]

Well Jason & Irishman ..... Two score or not two score, at least you get to score with your favorite China bride.

[Kiwi303]

I got glasses at age 6... does that mean if I was old then, I'm geriatric now at 30?

[JOHN1964]

All my life i had perfect vision and then i turned 45, Anything closer than about twelve inches away then my eyes are shot, Other than that my eyes are perfect, Especially long vision.
MinYing has a habit of putting things right in front of my face to read and then laughs at me when i put on my glasses.
Jason, I must have been a late starter 

[seagull]

Well Jason & Irishman ..... Two score or not two score, at least you get to score with your favorite China bride.

And you can still see how beautiful she is...until your eye sight further declines, at least.

[Willy The Londoner]

Oh Ronan, you've got so much to look forward to.  The eyes are just the beginning of the decay.

I'll hit a couple of highlights and leave the rest of the discovery to you.  Just think 10 more years and you can join the Old Farts club.   Then there is erectile dysfunction.  Don't know anything about that one yet but I'll let you know.  You might ask Willy or Arnold about it if you are curious. 

Sorry Willy, Arnold, I tried but I couldn't resist.

Ha ha Shaun  My wife asked if you are talking about her Willy or your willy?

But I am thinking that it wont be long before I need a steel rod implant.

Chong did they give you a time span when you had your laser treatment. I was thinking of itsome years back  but a couple of people have told me it only stays good for about 12 years or so.

Willy

[Paul Todd]

Irish, Life begins at 40! just wait and see 

[David E]

I've had reading glasses for 10 years and just got some distance glasses for night driving !!!...next will be a guide dog I suppose 

But dont worry about all the other age related worries.....provided your mind doesn't go, and you can remember to take the umpteen different pills each day, then most of the ageing problems disappear (including ED Shaun  )

"Better living through modern Chemistry !!!"