Do you hold your arm out to read a text message? Do you turn the browser zoom up a little more every year? It's very probably presbyopia, which affects almost everyone from the age of 40–45. The lens of the eye loses its flexibility and focusing up close becomes harder. Screens aren't the cause, but they make it more noticeable.
Presbyopia and blue light: two different things
Let's start with the essentials, because many adverts mix them up:
- Presbyopia is corrected with prescription lenses (reading glasses, varifocals, “intermediate” lenses for the computer). Only an eye test can tell you which.
- Blue light from screens doesn't damage the eyes at usual exposure levels, according to current knowledge. A filter can improve comfort, especially in the evening, but it doesn't correct anything.
In other words: if you need reading glasses, a pair of non-prescription blue light glasses won't replace them. We'd rather tell you clearly.
The settings that really help
Enlarge, always
Phone text size raised by two notches, browser zoom at 125%, and on the computer, display scaling at 125 or 150%. It's the most effective habit, and it's free.
More light in the room
With age, the eye needs more light for the same sharpness. An adjustable desk lamp, as well as the ceiling light, transforms reading on screen as well as on paper.
A bigger screen, further away
An external 24-inch screen placed at arm's length is far more comfortable than a 13-inch laptop pulled close. If you wear varifocals, lower the screen a little so you can look at it through the bottom of the lenses without lifting your chin.
Dry eyes
Dry eye also increases with age, especially in women after the menopause. Blink on purpose, air the room, and ask your pharmacist for advice on artificial tears.
So do blue light glasses make sense after 45?
Yes, in two specific cases:
- You don't need a near-vision prescription (or you wear contact lenses) and you spend your days at a computer: clear anti-reflective lenses like MIDI or HAVANE bring welcome comfort.
- In the evening, in front of a series or a tablet, for those who sleep badly: an amber tint like SAFRAN filters more — not to be worn for night driving. We cover this in our article on sleep.
If you wear prescription lenses, the simplest option is to ask your optician for a filtering coating on your next pair of lenses.
Have your eyes checked regularly
After 45, an eye test every two years is recommended, even if nothing bothers you. It lets you adapt your near-vision correction and detect rarer but serious problems early, such as glaucoma, which gives no symptoms at first.
Read next: Blue light glasses: are they covered by health insurance in France?