Specsavers Palmerston’s message after revelations Territorians with presbyopia don’t realise

A national survey has found many Australians aged 35-50 who are struggling with a certain eye condition are totally unaware of it.

Luke Ivey knew what was coming. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Luke Ivey knew what was coming.

He had just turned 40, about the age that a common eye condition known as presbyopia begins to develop, and he could sense something was off.

“I’ve been in the optics industry for 10 years,” said the Specsavers Palmerston retail director. “I knew what to expect”

Presbyopia is a natural, age-related vision condition where the eyes gradually lose the ability to focus on nearby objects.

The condition generally starts to develop in those aged between 35-50.

Mr Ivey first started to tell he had developed presbyopia when he started needing to hold his phone further and further away, he said.

It got to a point where he even struggled to see the words on menus and books.

Eventually he gave in and saw an optometrist, something he recommends other people to do as well.

“Like most guys, we typically deal with it and avoid it for as long as possible until it becomes unbearable and you end up seeking help,” he said.

Specsavers Palmerston optometrist Tony Hill said many people put off getting eye check-ups. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Ivey’s situation was not uncommon, Specsavers Palmerston optometrist Tony Hill said.

A recent national survey from Specsavers — which was conducted between May 8-13 with a sample size of 1033 — found that many Australians aged 35-50 were struggling with blurry or unclear vision during everyday tasks.

Yet a majority of those surveyed remain unaware of the likely cause.

Nearly half of all respondents said their driving confidence had declined compared to their 20s or 30s, with night-time driving a particular concern.

Mr Hill recommended people come in for an eye check every two years. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Some of the reasons why include from struggling to see road signs at night, squinting at street signs, leaning forward to see better and more.

Mr Hill said there were plenty of people who did “anything but come and get their eyes checked”, which included re-sizing screen text, using a phone torch to see more clearly, and holding reading material — such as books and menus — at arms’ length.

The message to take home, Mr Hill said, was to get your eyes checked every two years.

Originally published as Specsavers Palmerston’s message after revelations Territorians with presbyopia don’t realise