The Reading Glasses Chronicles: Approaching 50 and dimming the Light

I am turning 50 this year, but I’ve actually needed reading glasses for a few years now. If you had asked me yesterday, I would have sworn I’ve only had them for two, maybe three years tops.

Oh boy, was I wrong.

I had to do some digging in the photo albums, and it turns out I bought my very first pair on August 8, 2020. That was a bit of a reality check. Perhaps my memory is a bit foggy because, in the beginning, you don't use them that frequently. It’s a slow creep.

You can probably imagine how the process goes. It starts with pure denial. You refuse to admit you need them, but the people around you notice the change immediately. They see you holding your smartphone further and further away just to read a text. The small print on packaging starts to feel like a cryptic puzzle. And whenever you go to a restaurant, you blame the "terrible mood lighting" for not being able to read the menu.

And then there is the ultimate workaround: taking a photo of the menu with your smartphone just so you can pinch-and-zoom to read it. When you reach that point, it is definitely a sign that something needs to be done.

I’ve been working with computers for 27 years now, which probably didn’t help the situation. But let's just be honest: the main reason is simply getting older. From about age 40, the eyes just start to decline.

The Moment of Surrender

Eventually, I went to the optician and heard the inevitable verdict: reading glasses were highly recommended. It was just a +1 strength, so it wasn't too bad.

The first time you actually use them, it feels like a liberation. It’s genuinely weird—suddenly, things that were a blur are crisp and readable again. It triggered a memory from about 25 or 30 years ago. I was in a car with a friend who couldn't read a road sign from the distance we were at, while for me, everything was crystal clear. Back then, I couldn't comprehend how he couldn't see it. Now, I know better.

The Habit

So, the reading glasses entered my life. In the beginning, you forget them constantly. Or rather, you pat yourself on the back the one time you do remember to bring them. During work, you wear them one moment, then take them off the next. But gradually, it becomes a habit. It reaches a point where you know it’s going to be a very long, hard workday if you realize you’ve left them at home.

I’ve also realized that reading glasses are basically a "consumable" item. Unlike regular glasses which stay on your nose, reading glasses are constantly being put on and taken off. You read something? Glasses on. Someone asks a question? You look away from the screen, glasses off. End of discussion? Glasses back on.

This constant flexing takes its toll. The weak point is always the hinge connecting the arms to the frame. After about two years, I had completely worn out my first pair. That’s when I decided to buy two at once. That way, I always have a reserve, and I can keep one permanently in my laptop bag for work.

Fun fact: I’m apparently a creature of habit. Since I started wearing reading glasses, I’ve stuck to the exact same frame design every single time. The only thing that rotates is the color. My history so far: first Green, then Blue, then Black, back to Blue, and now—full circle—I'm wearing Green again. (I did try other, but as you can see below that wasn't a big success!!)

The Blue Light Experiment

At the end of last year, it was time for a new pair again. This time, I chose something different: reading glasses with a blue light filter.

I know, I know. You can change the settings on most laptops, tablets, and phones to reduce blue light via software, or just use "Night Mode." And yes, I know it isn't strictly scientifically proven that these glasses have a massive medical benefit. The experience likely differs from person to person.

But honestly? I’m happy with them. It is a fact that a portion of the blue light is filtered out. I’ve noticed that if I take the glasses off and look at my screen, I unconsciously pull my head back a little. It feels softer on the eyes.

So, this is my new system: the standard reading glasses for the newspaper and restaurant menus, and the blue filter glasses strictly for work.

We can't defy age!!!

Cheers,
Peter