When life becomes a blur, literally, many women delay doing anything about it, concerned clunky glasses will cramp their style.
A recent survey conducted by eye-health company Bausch + Lomb revealed 65% of New Zealand women believe glasses make them look older and more than half would avoid wearing glasses on a first date.
The survey of 1000 women, aged between 40 and 59, focused on attitudes towards optical health and perceptions on ageing.
What it showed was that women took vision seriously, but were not above vanity.
Nearly 70% of women preferred to take action on grey hair, weight gain or wrinkles before addressing failing vision, despite 58% recognising failing vision as the most serious long-term concern.
While contact lenses remain a popular choice, choosing glasses does not mean opting for boring and dowdy, according to purveyors.
Rather, they are an accessory that can provide a splash of colour or statement every day.
Bridgman and Dean co-owner and optometrist David Bridgman says people often put up with deteriorating eye health for as long as they can, rather than seek help for it.
"Eye health exams are important for people to get if they have a concern," he says.
Clinical optometrist Vicky Wang agrees, saying women are often slow to seek treatment for eye health concerns, with more than 25% waiting a year or more to face their vision problems.
But as they become older their eyes' ability to focus declines.
"I see a lot of women who show the signs of failing vision not acting soon enough.
It is assumed that because their vision is deteriorating the only option is to wear nana bifocals or reading glasses."
But more than 60% suffer from presbyopia, a natural occurrence which makes it difficult for the eye to focus, resulting in them struggling to read menus, send text messages or put on makeup.
"Many women jokingly refer to presbyopia as long-arm syndrome because the arms stretch out further and further in an attempt to make out fine print," she says.
Multifocal contact lenses are an easy solution, as are fabulous frames.
Having been in the optometry business for 21 years, Mr Bridgman has seen great changes in options for correcting lenses.
While contacts are increasingly popular, frames are being produced that are "much richer in colour and more obvious, rather than being plain, wire frames".
Embellishments are also popular, with many frames featuring rock crystals.
When it comes time to selecting frames, he finds many people bring a friend for a second opinion and often take away a few pairs to try at home.
It is also common to buy two pairs, so as to have a "second look" for different occasions.
Whatever your age, whatever your stage, it is important to take care of your eyes.
Besides, wearing gorgeous glasses certainly beats premature squinting wrinkles.
