Getting my first pair of glasses with Specsavers Cardiff

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If you’ve noticed yourself struggling to focus on small print or using your phone to zoom in so you can read things, then it’s definitely time for an eye test.

This is exactly what’s been happening to me recently – struggling with the small print on things like labels and menus, needing more light when I’m reading, and finding text a little blurrier.

I’ve never needed glasses before so it’s been a bit of a shock, but it’s called ‘presbyopia’ and is a very common, age-related change in vision caused by the eye’s lens becoming less flexible over time, meaning it can’t adjust focus as easily.

It typically becomes noticeable in your 40s, continues gradually, and is a normal part of ageing – almost everyone develops it if they live long enough. It’s not a condition that can be reversed – but it can be easily corrected with reading glasses for close-up tasks, varifocal (multifocal) glasses for all distances, or contact lenses if you’d prefer not to wear glasses.

I was really nervous about getting my first pair of glasses but the team at Specsavers on Cardiff’s Queen Street were so helpful and kind, from explaining the changes in my vision, to helping me figure out what style frame suited me. Specsavers is a trusted name when it comes to eye care but with all of Specsavers’ stores locally owned and run, each branch is at the heart of supporting its local community and customers too.

Once they’d tested my eyes to work out my prescription, it took around two weeks for my glasses to arrive in store and then half an hour or so to fit them properly for me.

Eye tests are free for children in Wales – find out why regular tests are so important here

I have two pairs – reading glasses for when I’ve got my nose in a book, and then a pair of varifocals for when I’m working so that when I look up from my laptop, everything else in the room isn’t blurry, as can be the case with reading glasses. They also explained how to look after my glasses, including how to clean them and store them properly, and advised coming back in two years for an eye check – or sooner if I notice any changes in vision or eye health.

If you haven’t had an eye test for a while, or you’re experiencing any of the same symptoms as me, then head to your local branch of Specsavers, or make an appointment online. Regular eye checks are really important as they help catch changes early and will ensure you’re using the right lenses. Using the wrong glasses (for example, off-the-shelf readers) can cause eye strain, headaches or discomfort.

It took me a couple of weeks but I’ve really got used to my new glasses now and the difference is amazing. Text on my books, phone and laptop is so much sharper, clearer and in focus, there’s no more squinting as I try to focus and no more using my phone to zoom in on text… and I think they look pretty stylish too.

Specsavers in Cardiff can be found on Queen Street, Albany Road, Llanishen retail park, Leckwith, St Mellons, and in Penarth, or see the website for your nearest branch

Under the Common Ailments Scheme in Wales, you can see an optician for a range of eye problems, such as conjunctivitis and dry eye. You can also contact an optician for emergency eye conditions such as red eyes, painful eyes, sudden vision changes, floaters, or foreign bodies.

Find your local store or book an eye test on the Specsavers website.