Reading Specs - So Hot Right Now

Rumor has it, you gents have a hard time admitting you need a little help here and there. That's right, your spouses have been talking. First, it was not needing to stop for directions, or following that Ikea how-to manual (which, let's be honest, aren't that helpful anyway). Now, you're swearing you don't need reading glasses, even though you have to telescope that menu back and forth so many times to read it, your server thinks you're waving her down.

Here's a clip of from our friends at The Vision Council humorously depicting the problem:

Presbyopia, or blurred near vision, usually occurs beginning at around age 40, when people experience trouble reading anything from books to menus, difficulty seeing detailed handiwork like sewing, or working at the computer. It's normal, even if you've never had a vision problem before. And even people who are nearsighted will notice that their near vision blurs when they wear their usual eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct distance vision.

Presbyopia is brought on by a natural age-related process that causes a gradual thickening and loss of flexibility of the natural lens inside your eye.  Over time, that lens becomes harder and less elastic. The less elastic the lens, the harder time the eye will have focusing up close.

Chances are, if you're reading this blog on AARP (yes, in our small blog font), you'll need some specs to do it. You're not alone: an estimated 90 million people in the United States either have presbyopia or will develop it by 2014. And of the 149.7 Million US Adults Wearing Eyeglasses in 2010, which is 63.5% of US Adults, 90.5 Million are over the age of 44.

Not sure what strength of readers you need? Check out this handy eye chart. And check out The Vision Council for more info on presbyopia and other eye related concerns, like cataracts and glaucoma.

So come on. Make like the cool (not quite still) kids and don some reading specs today.

When did you get your first pair of readers?