I'm 40 and close-up things look blurry. What can I do?

When close-up things start to look blurry in your 40s, the usual reason is a normal change with age: the lens inside the eye gets harder and less flexible and stops focusing light correctly, so nearby objects look blurry. The US National Eye Institute says everyone gets this as they get older. What you can do is make close-up tasks easier with brighter light, larger text and regular breaks, and have your eyes checked so an eye doctor can tell you which glasses suit you.

Why does close-up vision get blurry after 40?

The lens inside the eye gets less flexible

Inside your eye is a clear lens that helps the eye focus. The US National Eye Institute (NEI) explains that as you age, this lens gets harder and less flexible and stops focusing light correctly on the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. This makes nearby objects look blurry, so reading, threading a needle and other close-up tasks become harder.

Seeing far away can stay the same

Focusing on something far away needs less change from the lens than focusing on something close. That is why many people notice that the television or road signs still look sharp, while a phone screen, a menu or the small print on a medicine box becomes blurry.

It is part of normal ageing

The NEI says this is a normal part of ageing and that everyone experiences it as they get older. The US National Institute on Aging (NIA) also lists losing the ability to see up close, needing more time to adjust to changing light, and trouble telling some colours apart among common vision changes in older adults.

For headlight glare when you drive at night, see Headlights dazzle me when I drive at night. What can I do?

What are the signs that my close-up vision is changing?

The NEI lists trouble seeing things up close, needing to hold reading material further away, eye strain and headache as typical signs.

For eye twitching and blurry vision by evening, see Why does my eye twitch and my vision blur by evening?

Will close-up vision keep getting worse?

The NEI says this change usually starts after age 45, gets worse over time, and usually stops getting worse after age 65. The timing and speed differ from person to person.

Because the lens keeps changing through your 40s and 50s, the glasses that suit you now may not suit you in a few years. That is why regular eye checks matter more than trying to find a single fix.

What about reading glasses from a shop?

The NEI says some people use reading glasses bought over the counter, and that an eye doctor can also prescribe lenses to help you see as clearly as possible. Eye doctors can check your close-up vision as part of a comprehensive eye exam.

What can I do day to day to see up close more comfortably?

Use more light

The NIA says that glasses, contact lenses and improved lighting can help with common vision changes, and the NEI suggests using brighter reading lights. At home, use a reading lamp that shines on the page or your work from the side or behind you, rather than reading under a single ceiling light. In restaurants and shops, move closer to the light or turn the menu towards it.

Make text larger

The NEI suggests choosing large-print books and increasing font size on the computer. On your phone, increase the text size and display zoom in the settings, and use the zoom on your camera to read small labels.

Hold things a comfortable distance away

The NEI says holding reading material further away can help in the early stages.

Take breaks from close-up work

The NIA suggests that if you spend a lot of time at a computer or focused on one thing, you take a break every 20 minutes to look about 20 feet (6 metres) away for 20 seconds. The NEI gives the same advice and notes that looking at a computer for a long time can tire out your eyes.

For more on screen habits for long workdays, see Tired, dry eyes from screens all day. What should I do?

When should I get my eyes checked?

Even if your eyes feel fine

The NEI says that even if your eyes feel healthy, you could have a problem and not know it, and calls a comprehensive dilated eye exam the single best thing you can do for your eye health.

Regularly as you get older

The NIA advises regular eye exams by an eye care professional as you get older. It says everyone over 50 should have a dilated eye exam every year or as recommended by their eye care professional, even with good vision, and every year or two after 60. Tell the doctor which medicines you take, because some can affect the eyes. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, have your prescription checked too; the NIA notes that even small changes in sight can increase the risk of falls and injuries.

Go straight away

The NIA advises seeing an eye care professional right away if:

• you suddenly cannot see, or everything looks blurry
• you see flashes of light, or many new floating specks or "cobwebs"
• you have eye pain, or you see double
• your eye or eyelid is red or swollen

How else can I look after my eyes as I get older?

The NIA's tips for healthy eyes at any age include wearing sunglasses that block ultraviolet (UV) light and a hat with a wide brim when you are outside, which suits Thailand's strong sun. Along with the regular eye checks above, these are everyday habits for the whole eye, not for close-up vision in particular.