First, I buy el-cheapo reading glasses at Dollar Tree. Yes... $1.25 for metal framed reading glasses are more than adequate for me. 

I remember the very first time that I was made to realize that my age was doing what age does. I was in my mid/late-40s, a "single adult", in a restaurant with someone, and we were looking over our menus. They asked me if I need glasses, which completely puzzled me... like, where did that come from? I said "No", but with this "Why do you ask that?" look on my face. They said I was holding the menu away from me, which I guess I didn't realize. Then they said, "Here, try these", handing me their reading glasses. Oh.... my.... goodness. I put on those reading glasses and could not believe the difference. I could actually see the menu crystal clear. It told on me, big time. I was legitimately bothered by the experience. I had no idea it was that bad.

So, I've been buying and using reading glasses ever since. I had like 1.00 glasses... 1.25... even 1.50. Well, yesterday I was trying them out, using my smartphone screen to test out which one's worked best. Man... 2.50 is it for me, now (gulp). I'm wearing them right now, typing this out, and I can see perfectly with them.

(Insert video from old Kiss song, "Goin' Blind")  

Sometimes the arms just aren’t long enough to read a menu.

(06-06-2024, 08:30 AM)Replying to Rogasingingdawg

That's the problem. With age we need longer arms. 

But... I'd be needing some mighty long arms right now.

Started for me in my early 50’s…Costco sells a pretty nice 4 pack of them. I still refuse to wear them in a restaurant etc… . 1.50’s for me.

Dollar Tree has been my reading glasses optometrist for some time now. I started out at 1.00, moved to 1.50 and now am a solid 1.75. I lose or break my reading glasses so often I buy them about 5 at a time.

(06-06-2024, 08:28 AM)Replying to RockmartDawg

Finally got glasses a few years ago, now the dr. keeps bringing up bi-focals when I go back each year.  He needs to chill.

I don't wear them all the time, but looking at a computer screen or watching TV was greatly improved.  Not to mention, looking at grass and trees was like high definition, lol.  I can still see and make out things all around me without them, it's just slightly blurry.

(06-06-2024, 09:20 AM)Replying to JC-DAWG83

I bought 3 pairs, yesterday. I actually got one 2.00 pair... just to have for randomly checking between them and the two 2.50 pair I bought. But after wearing both I have sort of settled in on the 2.50s, and that's what I'm wearing right now.

Thankfully, the Almighty Dawg blessed me with a 36 inch sleeve length. However, the folks that sit on the other side of the table from me while I read the menu sure do bitch a lot about my sight. Tell them that are inconsiderate as Hell and are guilty of ageism, discrimination and all sorts of other isms.

(06-06-2024, 09:26 AM)Replying to viper2369

Finally got glasses a few years ago, now the dr. keeps bringing up bi-focals when I go back each year.  He needs to chill.

I don't wear them all the time, but looking at a computer screen or watching TV was greatly improved.  Not to mention, looking at grass and trees was like high definition, lol.  I can still see and make out things all around me without them, it's just slightly blurry.
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My only problem is close-up stuff... reading, such as that. If I am driving a car I am 100% completely fine, perfect vision. I just can't read anything up close anymore.

20/20 within 18” of my eyes and progressively worse farther out. Problem with wearing contacts to correct nearsightedness is that you can’t see things up close, but you can far away. Doc told me to wear reading glasses when I’m wearing contacts and need to see things up close, i.e. menu.

(06-06-2024, 05:13 PM)Replying to GriffWoody

Interesting. So your eye condition is the opposite of mine. But the treatment by way of the contacts reverses the condition, fixes it so you can see far away, and a regular ole' pair of readers takes care of it. That's good.