Can I Get Rid of My Reading Glasses After 40?

Why your near vision fades after 40

Near vision fades after 40 because the natural lens inside your eye slowly becomes stiffer, so it cannot change shape easily to focus up close. This normal, age-related change is called presbyopia (say "prez-bee-OH-pee-uh").

The lens sits just behind the coloured part of your eye. When you are young, it is soft and bends easily to bring near things into focus. With age it loses that flexibility, a little more each year.

Common signs are:

• holding books, menus or your phone further away to read them
• finding small print harder to read in dim light
• tired eyes or eye strain after reading or other close work

Presbyopia is a normal part of ageing. It is not caused by using screens. A new change in your vision is a good reason to get your eyes checked.

Option 1 — Reading glasses: the simplest fix

Reading glasses are the simplest way to see clearly up close, and they need no procedure at all.

What it is. Glasses you wear only for near tasks, such as reading or using your phone. The right power is chosen after an eye check.

Who it generally suits. Anyone who wants the simplest option, one you can take off at any time, and who is happy to put on glasses for close work.

Main limitation. You need to keep them with you for near tasks. Your near power also usually changes over time, so the glasses need updating now and then.

Option 2 — Multifocal contact lenses: near and distance in one lens

Multifocal contact lenses are contact lenses designed to help you see both far and near through the same lens.

What it is. A contact lens is a thin lens worn directly on the eye. A multifocal contact lens has different zones for distance and near vision built into it. These lenses are usually worn in both eyes.

Who it generally suits. People who are comfortable wearing and caring for contact lenses, and who would like to manage most of the day without glasses.

Main limitation. Vision can be a compromise, especially in dim light or for very fine detail. The lenses need daily care, and they do not suit every eye. For example, comfort varies from person to person.

Whether contact lenses are an option for your eyes can be discussed at your consultation.

Option 3 — Monovision contact lenses: one eye for distance, one eye for near

Monovision contact lenses share the work between your two eyes: one lens is set mainly for distance and the other mainly for near.

What it is. Your brain learns to use the clearer image for each task. This is different from multifocal contact lenses (Option 2), where each lens has both distance and near zones.

Who it generally suits. Monovision is a very good option for people with myopia (short-sightedness, which means far-away things look blurred) who already wear glasses or contact lenses but now have trouble reading with them. Monovision sets one eye for distance and one eye for near. To know more, discuss it with the doctor.

Main limitation. Not everyone adapts. For some people, judging depth and seeing sharp detail, including at night, can feel reduced.

Whether contact lenses are an option for your eyes can be discussed at your consultation.

Option 4 — Refractive lens exchange: replacing the eye's natural lens

Refractive lens exchange is surgery in which the eye's natural lens is replaced with a clear artificial lens.

What it is. It is also called lens replacement. The artificial lens is called an intraocular lens (IOL). The surgery uses the same basic approach as cataract surgery, which removes a lens that has turned cloudy, but it is done before a cataract needs removing. Different lens types exist, for example multifocal or trifocal lenses, which are designed to help with more than one distance.

Who it generally suits. It is generally considered for adults who want to rely less on glasses for both distance and near, and for whom glasses or contact lenses are not enough.

Main limitation. It is surgery on the eye, so it cannot be undone in the way you can simply stop wearing glasses or contact lenses. Some people may still use glasses for some tasks. The risks and recovery are explained at your consultation.

Dr. Neha Chandrakar offers refractive lens exchange. Whether it is right for you can only be decided after an eye examination and consultation.

For background on the lens types used in lens replacement, see our page on cataract surgery in South Delhi.

Option 5 — Corneal presbyopic inlays: a small implant in the cornea (general information only)

A corneal presbyopic inlay is a very small implant placed in the cornea to help near focus, and it is described here for general information only.

What it is. The cornea is the clear front window of the eye. An inlay is a tiny, thin implant placed inside it, usually in one eye only, to help that eye focus up close. It is an option you may read about when looking for ways to stop using reading glasses.

Who it generally suits. Suitability is very individual and can only be assessed by the treating doctor.

Main limitation. It is a surgical procedure, and it does not suit everyone. Results and limitations vary from person to person, and availability varies too.

If you have read about inlays, you can ask about them at your consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get rid of my reading glasses completely?

Some options can reduce how much you rely on reading glasses, but no option can be promised to remove them for every task. What is realistic for you depends on your eyes, which is why a consultation comes first.

Can presbyopia be cured or reversed?

No. The natural lens keeps stiffening with age. The options on this page work around that change; they do not reverse it.

What is the simplest option if I don't want surgery?

Reading glasses. Multifocal and monovision contact lenses are also non-surgical options if you are comfortable wearing contact lenses.

What is the difference between multifocal and monovision contact lenses?

Multifocal lenses have zones for distance and near in each lens. With monovision, one eye is set mainly for distance and the other mainly for near, and the brain learns to use both.

What is refractive lens exchange?

It means replacing the eye's natural lens with an artificial lens, using the same basic surgical approach as cataract surgery, before a cataract needs removing. Whether it suits you can only be decided after an eye examination and consultation.

What are corneal presbyopic inlays?

They are small implants placed in the cornea to help near focus, described on this page for general information only. Whether any such procedure is an option for you can only be decided after consulting the doctor.

How do I know which option I am eligible for?

There is no way to tell from symptoms or a glasses power alone. Whether you are eligible for any of these procedures can only be decided after consulting the doctor, who will examine your eyes and advise you.

How much does it cost to get rid of reading glasses?

It depends on the option that is right for your eyes, so no figure can be given here. You will be given a clear estimate at your consultation, after your eyes have been examined.

Written for and medically reviewed by Dr. Neha Chandrakar, MBBS, DNB (Ophthalmology), FAICO. Last reviewed: 19 October 2026

Which option is right for you? Only a consultation can tell

Only a consultation can tell which option, if any, is right for you. This page describes the five options in general terms. Whether you are eligible for any of these procedures can only be decided after consulting the doctor, who will examine your eyes and advise what, if anything, suits you.

To book a near-vision consultation in Greater Kailash-1, call or WhatsApp the clinic, or see all clinic details on our contact page.