Why is my reading vision getting worse? Here’s what you need to know about this natural but frustrating part of aging.

Question: Aren’t reading problems just fixed with glasses?

For the vast majority of people, this is true. Generally, the lens inside the eye is supposed to bring the distance focus up close. We start to lose that ability in our 20s and 30s, and by the time we are in our 40s, we can’t crank in enough power to bring that distance focus in, and our arms aren’t long enough to read. Because of that, we need a little crutch for the up close stuff, either reading glasses or a bifocal. This is actually very predictable based on our age, and our need for reading glasses continues to go up into our 60s. Whether or not you wear glasses doesn’t change this at all, so you’re not “saving yourself” by not wearing readers and gutting it out. It’s just part of passing a few more birthdays along the way.

Question: What else causes reading problems?

The other problem that we run into frequently is dry eyes. The key difference is that people with dry eyes can generally read fairly well initially. However, as you stare at the page, your eyes dry out, causing blurry vision and/or difficulty focusing. Your eyes tend to get tired or gritty when reading for a while, especially towards the end of the day. They may also experience problems on the computer for the same reason; staring a lot can dry them out. Again, the difference here is that they can start pretty good, and then they poop out.

Question: What do you do for that?

Artificial tears, hot compresses to the lids for a couple of minutes, and sometimes medicated drops. Taking breaks every so often (looking into the distance) helps, too.

Question: Any other problems we should know about?

A much less common problem is convergence insufficiency. Generally, our eyes are pointed straight ahead when we look in the distance, and they converge when we come up close. This ability can poop out in some folks as they get older, especially in people with Parkinson’s disease. They can have double vision or a halo effect. These folks strain to bring the images from each eye together and have a tendency to close one eye when they read because it eliminates the struggle. Prism in the glasses can help with this; basically, it’s a little crutch for the patient to move those images together.

Question: So when does someone need to be seen?

Many diseases blur the vision for distance and near, but people notice the reading problems first because that’s when they’re looking at small things and “pushing the system”. It’s always a good idea to get a complete eye exam if you’re having problems seeing. It may just be glasses, but it’s good to know that it’s not something else.

Bio: Dr. Benevento is a board certified ophthalmologist. He practices at our office in Bettendorf Iowa. For more information on Dr. Benevento see his bio.

The material contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider.