# Getting my eyes checked: I now can't read with my glasses on! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 25, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-eyes-checked-i-now-cant-read-with-my-glasses-on/616722 "2012-03-25T00:01:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-eyes-checked-i-now-cant-read-with-my-glasses-on/616722/1 "2012-03-25T00:01:12Z")
I made an appointment to get my eyes checked next week. I’ve run into this strange problem with my most recent (2007) glasses prescription. I’ve been very nearsighted since I was about 18, but I’ve always been able to read anything close to me wearing glasses. Now, I can see far objects fine, but I can’t read anything close to me. I have to take my glasses off to read the music in the hymnal at church, but then have to put them back on to see anything in the front. In my bed, I have to take my glasses off to read, but have to put them back on to watch the television. I’m going to tell the eye doctor all about this, but is this a strange combination? Without the glasses on, I can read anything close to me, so I don’t think this means I’ll need bifocals. However, I figure this means a very expensive new pair of glasses. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-eyes-checked-i-now-cant-read-with-my-glasses-on/616722/2 "2012-03-25T00:08:28Z")
This is probably standard issue aging. How old are you? Your lens becomes increasingly rigid with age, and can’t focus as well on close items. You’ll probably have to get bifocals. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-eyes-checked-i-now-cant-read-with-my-glasses-on/616722/3 "2012-03-25T02:47:37Z")
The glasses correction for nearsightedness makes it harder to focus on things that are up close if you are developing what Darryl Lict described as standard issue aging, presbyopia. It’s too bad you weren’t tested for that when the dr. made up your script, but should be able to rewrite it for no charge, and also get it refilled at no extra charge. Welcome to the club. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-eyes-checked-i-now-cant-read-with-my-glasses-on/616722/4 "2012-03-25T03:10:23Z")
Welcome to getting old. I’m in my forties and mildly myopic, and I now have to take my glasses off, or hold things about 2.5 feet from my face when I have my contact lenses in, to read small print. Since I wear contacts most days, I’ve been thinking about getting reading glasses for when I have them in. But I’m still in denial about it at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-eyes-checked-i-now-cant-read-with-my-glasses-on/616722/5 "2012-03-25T03:12:39Z")
Yup. I had the same issue. Couldn’t read with my glasses on, but couldn’t see far away if I took them off. One word: bifocals. And even now, I still flip my glasses up to read close print. I’ll probably have to get my prescription changed again soon. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-eyes-checked-i-now-cant-read-with-my-glasses-on/616722/6 "2012-03-25T03:33:57Z")
As someone who works in ophthalmology, my guess is - welcome to the 40+ club and the additional diagnosis of presbyopia. Yes, myopic (near-sighted) people get this too.