Shortsighted and think I need lenses for closeup work

A question about : Shortsighted and think I need lenses for closeup work

I've been shortsighted since I was about 11 - I'm now nearly 46. Recently got new glasses and the optician did mention that I may need Varifocals to give me some help with closeup work. I chose not to at the moment - my prescription is about -4.75 (one eye slightly different) plus some astigmatism. I work in an office and use the PC all day long - with my new glasses my vision is good at distance and arms length. Reading a book & writing is fine but I find myself moving a bit further away to see better and I suspect it will get worse as I get older.

I've just found myself doing some drawing and found it difficult to see clearly up close, also for things like threading a needle I can see better if I take my glasses off.

My question is - should I go back to the optician and explain that I would like some reading glasses in addition to my current glasses which are great for 90% of the time. They will probably recommend Varifocals but I've read that good ones are very expensive (too much to spend for occasional drawing or sewing!) and some people find them very difficult to get used to, therefore I really don't want to be wearing them all the time. I'd be happy to swap between glasses for a short amount of time as necessary.

My next question is that if I ordered some reading glasses, how do they work out the prescription? I'm curious to understand it. I've just tried on my husband's reading glasses on top of mine, and they would be great for close up work! His prescription is +1.75 so does that mean I would be prescribed glasses for -4.75 + 1.75 = -3.00? In other words is it a matter of prescribing weaker distance lenses so that I can see better up close?

I hasten to add that I would get a proper prescription rather than damaging my eyes by wearing 2 pairs of glasses at the same time! Just trying to understand the science behind it all, if anyone can help?!

Best answers:

• Hi maryroberts, I can sympathize! I'm 42 and short sighted since about 11 too. I've started to notice the same things as you, closer work getting harder. I wear contact lenses a lot and can't take them off to focus like I do when I'm wearing my glasses. I had planned to get some cheap readers eventually but I would only be able to use them with my contact lenses. I'm hoping to hold out a little longer.
  I don't think the prescriptions work out as simply as you have suggested. It will more likely be varifocals.
  I'll be looking out for responses to this question with interest.
• They may have already worked out the reading prescription for you (often called a reading Add), in which case there would be no problem just getting reading specs made up.
  Something else to consider though, is that currently, the difference between your distance and near prescriptions would be smaller than it will be further down the line. At this point, it would be easier to get used to varifocals and you should be able to adapt without any problem as your reading Add increases with age,
  Hope that helps.