As we get older, we don't need glasses. Is it true?
By kevchua
@kevchua (1004)
Malaysia
August 25, 2009 2:35am CST
I've been wearing glasses since I was in elementary school. I can't wear contacts; I need to wear glasses as the lens is thick. People say that as you get older, your eyesight becomes "better" and you don't have to wear glasses. Is that true, and how could you explain this?
4 people like this
12 responses
@fruitcakeliz (2641)
• United States
25 Aug 09
it seems like everyone can't understand where you get this idea, but let me explain...
There is a chance you eyesight can get a little better once you hit your fourties. As you know, generally as you age, you start to lose some muscle tone, and this will happen in the muscles inside your eye as well, and this can cause the shape of the eye to re-shape, and this can often cause a your vision to improve, though usually not too much, so if your prescription is a very strong one already, then you probably won't get to the point where you won't have to wear glasses, but your prescription may decrease anough that you might be able to wear contacts if you desire.
1 person likes this
@fruitcakeliz (2641)
• United States
25 Aug 09
Sorry, i realized i meant to add more. This slackening of the muscles is also often why people who nevr had to wear glasses before, have to start wearing them when they get older. It probably isn't going to help you any if you have far-sightedness already though, it really only happens in near-sighted people. Hence why older people have to start wearing glasses to read, as it is the things up close that they have a hard time seeing (think of reading a newspaper, if you start to have trouble bcause your "arms aren't long enough" you are becoming nearsighted..)
This happened with my mother, she always wore glasses to correct her nearsightedness, but not a very strong prescription, as she golt older her prescrption kept getting weaker and weaker, and eventually she didn't need to wear glasses any more for a period of time, unfortunately then she continued getting worse in the other way, and had to start wearing glasses to correct her farsightedness.
1 person likes this
@CJscott (4187)
• Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
25 Aug 09
..Well I could see that if you are near sighted to begin with. Then when the lens in your eye starts to harden as they do with age, which creates far sightedness, and difficulty focusing on nearer things, it could negate slightly the near sightedness.
Who knows.
1 person likes this
@youless (112103)
• Guangzhou, China
25 Aug 09
I thought some in the past but I doubt it now. Some time ago I posted a topic like this. I received different responses and this is why I feel confused to the answer. Some people seem to have better eyesight when they grow old, but some get worse. It is hard to say.
I love China
@srganesh (6340)
• India
25 Aug 09
Where did you get this idea from?Our eye sight becomes poor when aging and almost all of us need to wear a glass.So,if you are wearing one then the possibilities of maintaining at the same power is to have some eye exercise,lessen watching tv or computer monitor.That way we can last with our present powers and not needing glasses in the old age will not be possible.Cheers!
1 person likes this
@preethaanju (3000)
• India
25 Aug 09
As we grow older we need only glasses and nothing else. We need glass to wear. We need glass to drink medicines, we need syringe for taking injections made of glass mostly, we need glucose bottles made of glass. so as we age we need more of glass hehehehe thx
1 person likes this
@cwong77 (2010)
• Malaysia
25 Aug 09
this is the first time I heard of this, kevchua.. From all my knowledge, I understand that old folks will need the specs when they get older.. as for both my mum & dad, they both were not wearing any glasses when young, however due to age factor, they required the reading glasses but I can tell that there sights for those stuff that is near is much better compare to those time.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
20 Jan 10
kevchua no indeed they have it really wrong, backwards. I have worn glasses since I was ten and I have had to have new glasses about every five years or so. as you get older your eyesight deteriorates faster than before . So you will need new prescription eyeglasses.
@prinzcy (32322)
• Malaysia
25 Aug 09
I think it's otherwise. Believe it or not, we will need glasses as we grow older and I don't think eyesight problem will be cure overtime. I think eyesight problem can only be cure with medication and right treatment. It won't heal by itself and you may need thicker glasses than the one you're wearing right now if you don't do something about it.
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
31 Jan 10
The adage might be metaphorical. The only way to get good eyesight, literally, is to get that laser treatment.
@jules67 (2788)
• Philippines
25 Aug 09
I have been wearing glasses since elementary as well. I do not agree to what one had said that as we age, eyesight becomes better. On the contrary , your eyesight even becomes bad. I still am wearing glasses , I just have to get used to it.
