I am 44 years old and 3 years ago I had an eye exam. My eyes were fine with the exception that I was having trouble reading small print. The Ophthalmologist prescribed reading glasses in the form of bifocals. They have worked well up until about 6 months ago. Now I find myself looking at everything from the bottom of the glasses and not using the top (unprescribed area) at all. I am having considerable trouble reading some things even with the bifocal. Can a persons eyes change that rapidly. Do you think I need glasses for my normal vision as well as for reading?
Answered by Richard E. Gans, M. D.
There are well-known "transition ages" in eyesight. One of them is between the age of 40 and 45. It is at this time that the eye begins to lose its ability to focus over varying distances. Prior to this stage, the ciliary body muscle, by tightening and relaxing, could change the shape of the lens within the eye to focus on objects at different distances. With time, that internal lens becomes rigid and is no longer able to change its shape enough to change its focal length. The eye becomes fixed to focus at one particular point or range. Glasses are then used in different powers to focus more clearly at selected distances. This is the reason why many people need to start wearing glasses in their early forties.
It is likely that you are somewhat farsighted. When the muscles inside the eye change the shape of the lens, they can compensate for some of that farsightedness without glasses. As the eye's focusing capability decreases, close objects start to blur and reading glasses become necessary. As that process continues, the eye can no longer compensate for the farsightedness and even distant objects become blurred without glasses. That is why you have to look through the bifocal of your old glasses to see distant objects. It is likely, assuming that there are no other problems, that by changing (and strengthening) the prescription in your glasses, you will regain quality vision, but the days of good vision without glasses may be behind you. Again, this is a normal maturation process and does not necessarily mean that anything is wrong with your eyes. Nevertheless, because there are pathologic processes that can cause rapid changes in glasses prescriptions as well, it is always a good idea to have an examination by an ophthalmologist who will prescribe glasses and explain this process in further detail.
PLEASE NOTE: The information contained on this system is not intended to supplant individual professional consultation, but is offered as a community education service. Advice on individual problems should be obtained directly from a professional.
Copyright, 1994. Richard E. Gans, M.D.
Last Modified: August 23, 1996