On 21/07/2010 19:06, Dave Baker wrote:
Went for a free eye test at Tesco in Slough today cos my 20 year old frames
are broken and I need a new pair. Surprisingly my prescription hasn't
changed much more than a jot in nearly 35 years. Back in 1977 I was minus
1.75 dioptres in both eyes (short sighted) with a touch of astigmatism. The
astigmatism moved around a bit over the various tests over the years but the
basic sphere correction has stayed the same. My old specs work just as well
as they ever did. I thought eyes might get worse over time but apparently
not. I'm still minus 1.75 in both eyes and can still read the smallest print
on the charts despite the inevitable eye lense hardening over the years.

Do other people find the same or do eyes generally get worse over time?

I am short sighted. When I was young I could use the same glasses for
reading and for distance. About 5 years ago I found that I had to take
my glasses off for reading and got myself a pair reading glasses purely
for wearing at the computer as the screen was just that little bit too
far away for perfect focus. I am not sure I need the reading glasses any
more which is a good thing as one of the arms has broken off. I do have
trouble reading small print.

As to my normal glasses my prescription has apparently got slightly
weaker over the years. I keep my newest pair for driving and use
whichever is the most available of several old pairs from years past. I
think the oldest pair is over 15 years old but memory being what it is
it could just as easily be over 25 years old.

As I understand it eyeballs tend to lengthen with age which helps the
short sighted but not the long sighted.