And over three-quarters admit they could be experiencing some of the behaviours associated with common eye condition, presbyopia
Two-thirds of Brits over the age of 35 (65%) admit their eyesight has got worse during the last 10 years – with as many as 76% saying they exhibit at least one of the indicators of presbyopia, a study has found.
The eye condition, which is common in those aged 40 and over, leads to the gradual loss of your eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects.
And some of the top symptoms that Brits claim to have experienced include blurred vision while looking at an object (23%), and struggling to read maps (20%).
More than one in 10 have misunderstood important messages or emails (11%), messaged the wrong person (12%), or have found themselves shifting their position due to an inability to see something clearly (13%).
And other unusual signs that it could be time for a trip to the opticians include using asking to borrow someone else’s glasses, using the shower gel instead of the shampoo – and even using the wrong toothbrush.
The top 15 signs that you could be experiencing presbyopia were revealed by Dr Josie Forte, who has been an optometrist for Specsavers for 20 years.
She said: “Most of us will experience some effects of presbyopia as we age, because of subtle changes in the lens of our eye. However, it really isn’t something to worry about, and is actually very common, typically from the age of 40 onwards.
“Your optician can recommend the best treatment for you, so we would recommend booking an eye test if you are experiencing any symptoms – or if you find yourself adopting some unusual behaviours to compensate for a change in your vision.”
Dr Josie’s advice follows a poll of 2,000 adults, aged 35 and over, which found 53% believe their eyesight is good or excellent – although four in 10 sometimes experience discomfort or fatigue in their eyes.
But 31% would still say their vision is clear – and 74% claim to feel confident in their ability to recognise the common signs of declining eyesight.
Despite this, many have struggled to see the bus number (19%), misplaced important items (10%), or misread a major news story (7%), as a result of not seeing clearly, according to the OnePoll.com study.
Specsavers has partnered with comedian and writer, Jen Brister, to launch its first ever “At-Arm’s Length” Comedy Club.
Jen, who has crafted a sketch to normalise and bring to life some of these behaviours in a relatable and humourous way, said: “Every element of the comedy evening, from the bar to my sketch, is designed to raise awareness of presbyopia.
“So, if you find yourself pulling weird faces when you’re trying to read something, this could be the perfect night out for you and your loved ones.”
Dr Forte, for Specsavers, added: “Subtle changes and impacts relating to our vision can often go unnoticed. But, like many conditions, if these changes aren’t addressed and treated, they can often get worse.”
DR JOSIE FORTE’S TOP SIGNS YOUR SIGHT MIGHT BE ON THE DECLINE:
- Finding yourself holding menus or small text farther away, in order to read them clearly
- Needing to hold reading material at arm’s length, in order to focus on it properly
- Zooming in on your phone, or increasing the font size, in order to read better
- Your children noticing you looking funny when you try to read things
- Needing brighter lighting to read something, or when doing close-up work
- Experiencing blurry vision at normal reading distance
- Squinting to bring objects into focus
- Having eye strain or headaches after reading or doing close-up work
- Asking to borrow people’s glasses to help you read things
- Mistaking the salt for the pepper
- Missing autocorrections when typing texts
- Picking up the shower gel instead of the shampoo
- Using the wrong toothbrush
