Hello 40’s and Hello Changes to Your Vision

The more birthdays we celebrate, the more we may notice changes in our vision. This is especially true, when we welcome the age of 40. The most common change is the loss of ability to focus on a close-up image, also known as presbyopia. The majority of patients experience this when they are trying to read or when looking at their phones.

Dr. Rebecca Moser, Vold Vision, optometrist shares, “It can be very frustrating for patients, who have been able to see just fine up close, and then in their early 40’s it’s like a switch goes off and everything becomes blurry. What is happening is the lens inside their eye becomes thicker making it less flexible and limits their up-close vision. Patients typically notice that they begin to hold items with small text further away and are challenged when reading in dim lighting.”

As the aging process continues, presbyopia will become more prevalent. Though the natural aging process cannot be prevented or stopped, Vold Vision has many options that can provide patients with a comfortable day-to-day lifestyle including multifocal glasses or contacts, monovision and laser vision correction.

The most traditional solution patients turn to is over- the-counter reading glasses; however, Dr. Moser points out this may not provide the best prescription for crisp vision. “Reading glasses may be acceptable for some, but they are an option that is made for a generic eye width and head size. You may not get the most accurate prescription, if you use over-the-counter readers.”

If a patient is experiencing changes in their vision or difficulty focusing, Vold Vision also suggests having an eye exam at least every two years to check for developing eye and vision problems. It’s critical that they don’t rely on limited vision tests such as the driver’s licenses screening to determine the quality of their sight. Additionally, if a patient is interested in mono-vision or laser vision correction, the next step would be to schedule a consultation with a Vold Vision doctor to determine what options they have available to them.

* All information subject to change. Images may contain models. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.