Studies have shown that 10% of women above the age of 40 wear reading glasses. If you have some sort of prescription glasses or contact lenses, then you might be on the way to wearing bifocals in the future. If you hold your food products at an arm’s length at the supermarket to read the price or the labels, you probably need reading glasses.
With age, the fibers of the eye lens get denser and less flexible. Therefore the lens cannot adjust to focus on nearby objects. This age-related condition is not a disease and is called presbyopia or “old eye.” This condition is noticed at the age of 40 to 45 and continues for another 15 to 20 years, after which it stabilizes. Therefore corrective measures such as bifocals or reading glasses become necessary.
If you are mostly in an outdoor environment you can use reading glasses in the form of sunglasses. If you are exposed to a lot of reflection, polarized reading glasses are also available.
You can avoid reading glasses or delay the onset of age related-eye conditions by maintaining a proper diet, healthy eye care and by doing the right eye exercise.
Some eye diseases do not cause any pain and do not have any symptoms for many years. A qualified optometrist will be able to detect any problems with the cornea or the lens by carefully examining them under certain optometric machines. Early detection can prevent irreparable damage.
Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration and Cataracts are eye conditions that develop with age and result in visual impairment or blindness. In Glaucoma the optic nerve is damaged whereas in macular degeneration the retina gets affected. Cataracts affect the crystalline lens. Although glaucoma and macular degeneration almost certainly lead to blindness, cataracts can be removed by surgery.
Here are a few tips to keep your eyes in good condition and avoid reading glasses:
o Include sufficient amounts of yellow-orange foods such as cantaloupes, carrots and yams. These fruits contain Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Selenium and zinc are some minerals that are important for healthy eyes.
o The muscles of the eyes must be well exercised in order to keep them healthy. A vision therapist will be able to recommend proper exercises for your eye condition.
o Palming keeps eyes from getting strained and helps soothe tired eyes. You can do this by rubbing your hands together till warm and cupping your eyes with them.
o Tea bags placed on your eyes after a tired day’s work can relieve them of tiredness.
o If you work for eight hours in front of a computer, it is a good idea to shift your gaze from the screen and focus at an object placed at a distance of eight to nine feet away. Do this every 15 minutes. This will keep your eyes in focus and give your eyes the necessary breaks.
Many people have to resort to reading glasses earlier as they take their eyes for granted. Your eyes are your windows to the world, and therefore treat them with care.
However, all said and done, if you do use reading glasses, you can choose from a plethora of designer reading glasses.