Still Reaching for Reading Glasses?

Why your vision is changing and why that change speeds up.

If you’ve found yourself reaching for reading glasses more often lately, you’re not alone. And no, this is not just “getting older.” It’s called presbyopia, and it happens to everyone.

Once we hit our 40s, the lens inside our eyes starts to stiffen, making it harder to focus on things up close. Menus, books, labels, and screens all start to blur, and between 45 and 55, this change often picks up speed. Readers go from being occasional to essential. By your mid-50s, the natural lens has usually lost most of its flexibility, and glasses become a constant companion.

This is the point where many people start wondering: is this just how things are now, or is there a better way?

When reading glasses stop being enough

Everyone reaches their own “enough is enough” moment with reading glasses. Some people are perfectly content using them for years, while others find them increasingly frustrating, especially if you’re always swapping between pairs, never worn glasses before, or need clear vision all day for work. Maybe you’ve even started skipping activities you once loved because of your eyesight.

It’s not about vanity, it’s about wanting to see clearly, feel confident, and enjoy life without your vision holding you back.

Your options after 45

Most people assume they’re stuck with reading glasses or progressive lenses. But there are more options than you might think:

• Progressive or varifocal glasses – combine multiple prescriptions in one lens. Some people adapt easily, others find them disorienting.

• Multifocal contact lenses – offer more flexibility but may reduce sharpness at some distances.

• Mono- or blended vision – one eye corrected for distance, the other for near. 

• Lens replacement surgery – a long-term solution that replaces your ageing natural lens with one designed for sharper, more stable vision at multiple distances.

What is lens replacement surgery?

Lens replacement (also called custom lens replacement or refractive lens exchange) involves replacing your eye’s natural lens with an artificial lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL) that helps restore your vision at near, intermediate, and/or far distances.

It’s surgically identical to cataract surgery, but before a cataract forms. This makes it a proactive choice for people who want to regain clarity and reduce their dependence on glasses.

What lens replacement can do

If you’re the right candidate, lens replacement can really change how you see the world. It can help you enjoy clear vision at different distances, whether you’re reading a book, working on your computer, or looking across the room, things just come into focus. Many people find they hardly need glasses anymore or can even do without them altogether. Plus, this procedure means you won’t develop cataracts in the future. Most importantly, it means you can get back to doing the things you love, at work, at home, or during your hobbies, without your eyesight getting in the way

What lens replacement doesn’t do

Like any surgery, lens replacement is a big decision. While serious risks are rare, it’s permanent and should only be considered after a thorough assessment. Some people notice mild halos or light scatter at first, but most adapt over time. It’s important to have discuss the options with your surgeon who can advise you what to expect and help determine whether it’s the right choice for you.

Who it’s best suited for

Lens replacement is typically suited to people:

• Aged 45 years or more, with declining near and/ or distance vision 

• Looking for a long-term solution to reduce or remove the need for readers

• With healthy eyes and stable prescriptions

• Whose lifestyle would benefit from greater visual freedom

If you’re relying on multiple prescriptions, frustrated by constant glasses use, or feeling like your vision is holding you back, this may be worth exploring.

Making the Decision Personal

At Wellington Eye Clinic, no two treatment plans are the same. We use a consultative process called Lifestyle Vision Design to look at how you use your eyes at work, home, and during hobbies, your goals for vision now and in the future, detailed scans of your eye’s anatomy, and your comfort level with different lens types. From there, we’ll advise whether lens replacement, or another treatment, is best for you. 

Taking the first step

This isn’t about rushing into a procedure. It’s about understanding what’s possible for you, and making a decision that fits with your lifestyle.

If your vision has started to feel like it’s holding you back, you’re not stuck and you’re not alone. The first step is a consultation to assess your eyes and explore what’s truly right for you.