Gransnetters share the difficulties they have experienced as their eyesight has deteriorated

I have suffered with my eyes for as long as I can remember. I use to have a patch on one eye, several operations later still wearing glasses and having a patch over lens in the right eye. Now I am 62, and I still wear glasses,and the lens in the bad eye just has plain glass in it, and then the prescription strength on the left eye. I know its deteriorating , because I need to use a magnifying glass to read, and sometimes that is not enough, so then have to ask, I have had to order a large print bible as I can't read the one I have, and I have my dads, and I can not read that one either. But the left eye is doing the work for both eyes, so its wearing out quicker I am sure. There is nothing that anyone can do, so I do fear, that I may end up blind, and that would be the worse thing ever for me. I know when I was at school I hated wearing glasses, I was specky 4 eyes, then I was a pirate because of thge patch, the kids really use to have ago at me, children can be cruel and they are, even if your child is a saint, they do join in, that's how they are. So I get my eyes checked every year now. Just so we can note the deterioration down. then we kow if I need a stronger lens.

My Eyesight has gradually deteriorated from the age of 40. I used to only wear reading glasses but have to wear glasses all the time for both long & short sight I wear varifocales for ease of use ageing is no fun!!However I am grateful for sight & donate regularly to the Guide Dogs For the Blind Charity as my philodophy is 'There But For The Grace Of God''

This happened only last week to my partner.
He got a sore throat so thought it was a cold. He could not quench his thirst, water, squash, juice, smoothies and lollies were consumed - therefore numerous trips to the loo.
2 days later he found that his long distance sight had got very bad very quickly. He went to have his eyes tested and they sent him away with glasses there and then and advised he go to the doctor.
The doctor sent him for a blood test.
The following morning at 2.30am the phone rang (no number) he couldn't get to the phone in time and a message was left. It said "Hello Dr MacFarlane here, I have the results of you blood test - will call you first thing in the morning"
That was horrendous we didn't sleep after that. In the morning the doctor rang back to say he has type 2 diabetes.
Awaiting next appointment.

I'm mid 60's and still manage to see most things reasonably well. I have had varifocals for a while now as swapping between glasses was a nightmare as I work in a school needing to see the whiteboard as well as read books. Once I got used to them I have no problems.

I'm not so keen on driving at night these days especially unlit country roads but I still manage it. I know people who won't drive a night or who struggle more than I do so I hope I don't get worse any time soon.

Being diabetic I get regular eye checks for free and my employer pays for Benendon health care which covers the cost of glasses so I make sure I take advantage of new ones every year. So far I haven't had any problems as a result of the diabetes but I'm told I have the beginnings of a cataract in one eye so no doubt will have to deal with that eventually. I don't know if there is anything specific I can do to slow its development. Note to self - must ask next time I'm tested.

these. material.

I think a mild symptom of Charles Bonnet syndrome appeared ( "appeared" is apt!) after my retinal drainage vein became thrombosed.

I enjoy there hallucinations when I am cosy in bed and ready for sleep. Sometimes I hallucinate patterns like old fashioned white lace curtain materikal, and sometimes simpler repeat patterns, and more interestingly little people in groups or singly. I think I sometimes hallucinate in colour but I am not sure. The hallucinations are always visual never aural, or smells.

I can't will these pictures and have to lie in bed peacefully with my eyes closed for them to appear.

I am 77 and am lucky - only have to wear glasses for reading.

This thread has been a real eye opener (pun intended!) highlighting the difficulties so many people have with vision.

My optician stopped me wearing contact lenses about ten years ago - one of the saddest days of my life. My eyes are permanently painfully dry and I've been prescribed thick drops to use hourly. My glasses then get smeary, so keeping them clean feels like a full time occupation!

I really struggle to read or write in the evenings, particularly in winter.

I am short sighted in one eye and long sighted in the other. This has never been a problem but recently my vision has deteriorated and I have been diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes. I struggle to see needlework colours and have been looking at day light lamps as a solution.

I was in my mid-forties when I realised I was struggling to see a new case management system on the computer at work. I went to the Opticians and said I don't understand it as I've always had really good eye sight. He looked at my d.o.b. and said its normal for people of your age. I then got reading glasses which made a remarkable difference and have recently purchased varifocal sunglasses which are fantastic when sitting reading in the sun and walking about. I would recommend them to anyone who loves reading in the sun by the pool with a pina colada!

I always lose my glasses and I can't find my glasses without my glasses!

I suffer from chronic migraines, which takes its toll on my eyesight as well as age. I find I have to have more appointments with the opticians and my prism needs to be stronger as well. I am blessed with good Doctors and magnifiers help and good lighting.

I was diagnosed as short sighted after my first pregnancy and wore glasses then tried contacts. After a number of painful infections and dry eyes (I have astigmatism) I resorted to just wearing glasses (which I hated) and daily contacts for special evenings out...until I got drunk and couldn't remove them! After plucking up the courage to see if I was suitable for laser, found I wasn't, and never likely to be. Now stuck with varifocals and waiting for an advance in science!

My eye sight started to deteriorate at the age of 50 when I had to start wearing glasses to read.

Ive worn glasses part time since 13 and full time since about 17. I wore lenses for over 20 years then had a fungal infection that nearly cost me an eye. I now wear varifocals which are fine for everyday use but for anything close I lift them up to read close without them..
I'm amazed how some people get to their 60's without ever having worn glasses - lucky things.
My husband bought a light from serious readers about a year ago - we like it although probably need another one.

My sight has deteriorated with age. Apart from the usual problems of difficulty reading and a 'fuzzy' view of the world around me, I do have a particular problem night driving - although this can be a good excuse to ask hubby to drive, especially when we're out for a meal (and glass of wine of course!).
Doing eye make-up - now there's a problem!! Can't perform this task with glasses on (obviously) so I use a magnifying mirror, which is fine during daylight, but it's pretty much guess-work under artificial light! One good thing - can't see my wrinkles so clearly! There's always a bright side! ?

Blurry when reading any small print, need glasses now for reading anything tiny.

Started to wear glasses for reading in my 50s shouldnt complain because i know its not a serious thing but it is so annoying when your out and trying to find your glasses for everything.

Its amazing from reading the thread how many people remember so much about when they first noticed there eyesight problems. I do not know if my memory is just generally poor but I have no recollection of when I first needed glasses, I have asked family members and it appears the whole family must have memory problems as not one of us can remember. It seems a lifetime I have been wearing glasses, I do remember it must be before my 30's as I remember wearing contacts to go out on a night out. I do not bother with them now became too stressful. I usually have my eyes tested every two years along with my husband for the last ten years I would say my eye sight seems to have stayed pretty much the same. Although this year I bought myself a 50" TV as I was so fed up missing the questions on quiz shows written on screen, hasn't really helped the blur just looks larger! I am sort sighted so it can become so annoying taking my glasses on and off all the time depending how far away I am looking. I have not heard of serious readers until today but will be going online to check it out and see if they can help me in the future.

it happened all or a sudden, could read something many feet away, then noticed reading small newspaper or book print was blurry and difficult, got some cheap reader glasses and what a difference, had an eye test and was told just a natural age symptom. Use readers all the time now.

I am writing this on behalf of my parents who both are now partially sighted due to glaucoma and macular degeneration, the difficulties they have for instance is seeing the time and mum putting the fabric conditioner in her washing machine.
Reading is another issue altogether if their mail is not in large print then it is a big no no, I am now basically their eyes, they have a one cup bolier for hot drinks its a god send and far safer.

I am 72 and have worn reading glasses since 11 as I have very long sight. over the years I have had glasses for all purpose sight but admit I prefer not to wear them .Over thee last ten years I have had cataracts developing in both eyes and now the left eye has matured enough to be operated on in the new year, Thankfully the right eye is helping to compensate but my love of reading is for short periods at this time as eyes get aching and headaches come from the strain.Looking foreward to better vision in the new year.

I struggle with varifocals, so I require distance and reading specs, I spend so much time searching for where I have left one pair or the other.

No real problems but I do need reading glasses and panic if I've forgotten them

Recent deterioration in one eye. With (new prescription) glasses which I wear all the time I can no longer read tv subtitles unless i sit within a metre of the screen. Nor can I now read the names of tube stops on the linear map above the windows.