My wife is my age and has always been far-sighted which means that her eyes are similar to someone that needs bifocals. She cannot see anything close without her glasses. In my case, I can see "without" the glasses since I am myopic, so bifocals for me will be close to clear glass---- and why pay for them if I can simply remove them for now? But I can see things getting gradually worse.
My wife claimed that after 6 months her glasses were not working already, and insurance will only pay for an eye Dr every 2 years maximum. So I know what you are saying. I guess I am waiting for my eyes to get bad enough that anything will work. I am young enough yet that they are still in the changing stage I figure. Sometimes eye Dr's just recommend reading glasses for the start of poor close vision since they change.