If you are on the far side of 40, you are probably finding that reading the phone book or newspaper is suddenly a chore. Welcome to middle age, and presbyopia. Presbyopia, the farsightedness that is inevitable with aging, is caused by the gradual hardening of the lens of the eye. It becomes less able to change shape, preventing us from focusing on close objects. Most people become aware of deteriorating lose vision in their mid-40s.
Many people turn to inexpensive reading glasses, but it's important to have regular eye exams.
Prescription lenses and bifocals allow a close-up correction giving the best possible vision for both close and far. If you are bothered by the telltale line that marks the bifocal, you may opt for contact lenses. An increasingly popular option is called monovision. You wear a contact with a close-up correction in one eye and if necessary, a contact for distance correction in the other. Your brain gradually learns to adapt, and you see reasonably well thought out your range of vision.