It’s typically something that comes with aging but the need for reading glasses can creep up on all of us faster than we want to believe. Perhaps you have noticed yourself straining to peruse a menu or your favorite book. Maybe you started to develop eye strain more frequently or experience headaches while working on things up close. If so, it may be time consider a quality pair of reading glasses.
While this is a completely normal development that comes with age, there is a lot that goes into determining exactly what type of reading glasses will work best for you. Things to consider before spending your hard earned cash and we outline the most crucial below to get you started.
Featured Topics
When You Need Consider Reading Glasses
As you age, the lens in your eye becomes less flexible making it harder to focus on up-close objects. The medical term for this is presbyopia, which literally means “elder vision.” Have you ever noticed anyone stretching their arms out to read something? Perhaps this is something you started to do yourself. Either way, this is exactly the behavior that is exhibited when someone needs reading glasses.
Signs You Need Reading Glasses
Naturally Aging
As we mentioned previously, age is ordinarily the most common reason you will need reading glasses at some point in your life. Typically anyone around 40 or older will require some level of magnification to help them read or work on things up close. That said, there is an increasing number of 20 and 30 somethings looking for reading glasses today. The number one cause of this is usually elevated stress, both emotional and physical.
With the exponential increase in screen time from computers to phones, young adults are finding their eyes are reaching a level of fatigue much sooner than previous generations. If this describes you, there is no reason to panic about premature aging. You have just overused your eyes and need to either give them a break or find a quality pair of reading glasses to get you back to full strength.
Always Needing Brighter Lighting
Our eyes always crave quality lighting when reading. Another common sign of presbyopia is constantly needing to or trying to turn up the lighting around you. Bright lighting helps to reduce eye strain when you read smaller print. But if you are truly experiencing presbyopia, no amount of lighting increase will help the lens of your eye focus any better.
Feeling Tired & Fatigued
You would likely benefit from reading glasses if you find yourself feeling overly tired during/after activities like reading, sewing, or working on anything up close. This symptom can easily go unnoticed for a long time because effects can be so gradual. Your body will slowly accept your new normal over time, and you may not be able to snap out of this cycle until you try reading glasses. It may not even dawn on you until you read this, therefore take a moment to reflect if this describes you!
Experiencing Frequent Headaches
This symptom is the more in-your-face outcome of the fatigue effect mentioned above. Headaches are never fun, and experiencing them whenever you read would get extremely frustrating. That said, the silver lining is you have direct feedback from your eyes that a change needs to be made. This problem can ultimately lead you to the solution of reading glasses much faster because a headache can’t typically be ignored.
Our recommendation at this point is to not get overzealous when choosing your lens power. What we mean is, choose a lens magnification that is appropriate for you. Try resisting the temptation of picking the strongest power available because you think it will help your headaches and eyestrain that much more. Choosing a lens magnification that is too strong can also lead to headaches.
Things to Consider When Choosing Reading Glasses
In most instances over the counter reading glasses will work for nearly everyone, as long as they choose a reasonable lens magnification as we discussed above. Most eye doctors would even admit the occasional use of such devices won’t cause any damage or long-term vision effects.
Frame Fit
Unlike prescription glasses from your eye doctor, over the counter reading glasses, no matter how nice, can’t be customized for your eyes. This means you will need to be diligent when searching to find a pair that is an appropriate fit. Finding a pair of readers that has a frame width and bridge with a proper fit will drastically help optical quality. A well fitting frame will align the optical center of the lens with the center of your eye. This is the ideal position and can solve many potential issues right from the start.
Magnification
Choosing the correct lens magnification or power will ultimately remain the most crucial choice you make. Most brands will have a magnification chart that will guide you to the correct lens diopter for your eyes. The diopters (magnification) typically start at +1.00 and commonly go to +3.50. Although you may be capable of finding powers stronger than +3.50, we recommend you head to your local eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam before choosing a magnification that strong. To get an idea of the power, you may need, check out our reading glasses power chart.
Build & Material Quality
When shopping for a pair of readers you may experience the temptation to merely select the cheapest pair you can find. It may be possible to find a decent pair of reading glasses this way, but that typically isn’t the outcome. Often, cheaper reading glasses will be poorly made and feature inferior materials. They also will likely seriously lack quality control, especially in the optics department.
Eyestrain and headaches are frequently associated with discount reading glasses due to the manufacturers’ inability to consistently produce clear, centered optics. You will often find lenses may be distorted or even include impurities which can drastically affect vision quality.
We definitely love the idea of over-the-counter readers and think they remain an excellent option for most people to try before spending a few hundred dollars at the local optician’s office. That said, we would gladly spend a little more money on a pair of high quality over-the-counter reading glasses to avoid quality issues.
Intro to Reading Glasses FAQ:
Are reading glasses just for more elderly people?
No! Reading glasses are not specifically reserved for those that qualify for Medicare. More seriously, many young adults in their late 20’s to early 30’s are discovering a need for reading glasses. The increased physical stress from computer and phone screens is having a profound impact on younger eyes causing premature fatigue and thus, decreased lens flexibility.
If you’re in your 20’s and 30’s and think you may need reading glasses, we recommend you start with a visit to your local ophthalmologist. If your eye correction needs are minimal enough, you could likely get away with only occasionally needing reading glasses.
Will reading glasses work as well as traditional prescription glasses?
There are a few brands of reading glasses (Scojo New York, Eyebobs, Corinne McCormack and Kate Spade to name a few) that have very good optics and can rival the quality of $400+ prescription glasses. That said, they are limited on just how much they can assist you. If you suffer from astigmatism or you have different magnification needs for each eye, off the shelf reading glasses may not work the best for you.
If imbalanced vision is all you are dealing with (different powers for each eye) you may be able to find some brands that are willing to customize a pair of off the shelf reading glasses to accommodate your needs. That said, we don’t speak for the manufacturers or brands and can’t guarantee this.
What is the difference between lens diopter & magnification?
Diopter refers to the power or magnification of a lens. There is a much more technical explanation of what exactly diopter is, but nearly every manufacturer and brand use it to refer to the lens magnification. Most brands carry lens powers from +1.00 to +3.50, but you can find some as high as +5.00.
We wouldn’t recommend any power over +3.50 for an off the shelf reader as anything stronger should warrant a visit to your eye doctor first. In fact, some states technically maintain laws over how strong the lenses in over the counter reading glasses can be. This is something that would likely never be enforced, but it does provide an example of the how serious choosing the correct visual devices can be.
Does using reading glasses weaken your eyes?
Reading glasses, or any prescription eyewear for that matter, are designed to aid vision only while being worn. They can’t improve or cure your vision permanently nor can they damage your eyes permanently. You can, however, experience eyestrain and headaches if your magnification is too strong or too weak.
Conclusion
Now that you’re quickly becoming a expert, be sure to closely look over that next or first pair of reading glasses before pulling the trigger. Really make sure the quality, optics, and fit are up to your standards to ensure a good experience while wearing them. If you think you are on your way to needing reading glasses then be sure to check out our section of reading glasses related articles here. There you will find many great topics and resources to help you toward that next great pair of readers!
If you aren’t sure where to begin, you can check out our curated collections (coming soon) of reading glasses and sun readers to help get you started!
Did we miss something? Have a comment or suggestion? Be sure to leave your comments and feedback below!
Reading glasses typically feature non-prescription lenses which magnify text allowing you to read items like books, magazines, and menus more easily. The lens magnification or power helps to reduce eye strain and visual discomfort when trying to read anything closer than an arm's length away, usually at a more reasonable price than traditional prescription glasses. [...]
Mirrored sunglasses contain a mirrored or reflective flash coating, often brilliantly colored, on the lens which controls the amount of light that passes through to your eye. Polarized lenses most often feature a non-mirrored or flash coated lenses, typically tinted a gray or amber color, which significantly filters out horizontally reflected light and glare. The [...]
Single vision lenses are the most common type of lens found in prescription eyewear. They feature the same prescription across the entirety of the lens surface and can be tailored for distance, mid-range or close up vision. Bifocal lenses are typically distance lenses that include a distinctively cut semi-circle shaped area for close-range vision. Last, [...]
High Index lenses are thinner, stronger, and more versatile than standard eyewear lenses. They are made from extremely durable plastic and are regarded as the best lenses you can get for your prescription glasses. Their key benefits include lighter weights and much thinner lens construction which improves fit and clarity. What Are High index lenses? [...]
How to Know if You Need Reading Glasses – Signs & Symptoms
It’s typically something that comes with aging but the need for reading glasses can creep up on all of us faster than we want to believe. Perhaps you have noticed yourself straining to peruse a menu or your favorite book. Maybe you started to develop eye strain more frequently or experience headaches while working on things up close. If so, it may be time consider a quality pair of reading glasses.
While this is a completely normal development that comes with age, there is a lot that goes into determining exactly what type of reading glasses will work best for you. Things to consider before spending your hard earned cash and we outline the most crucial below to get you started.
Featured Topics
When You Need Consider Reading Glasses
As you age, the lens in your eye becomes less flexible making it harder to focus on up-close objects. The medical term for this is presbyopia, which literally means “elder vision.” Have you ever noticed anyone stretching their arms out to read something? Perhaps this is something you started to do yourself. Either way, this is exactly the behavior that is exhibited when someone needs reading glasses.
Signs You Need Reading Glasses
Naturally Aging
As we mentioned previously, age is ordinarily the most common reason you will need reading glasses at some point in your life. Typically anyone around 40 or older will require some level of magnification to help them read or work on things up close. That said, there is an increasing number of 20 and 30 somethings looking for reading glasses today. The number one cause of this is usually elevated stress, both emotional and physical.
With the exponential increase in screen time from computers to phones, young adults are finding their eyes are reaching a level of fatigue much sooner than previous generations. If this describes you, there is no reason to panic about premature aging. You have just overused your eyes and need to either give them a break or find a quality pair of reading glasses to get you back to full strength.
Always Needing Brighter Lighting
Our eyes always crave quality lighting when reading. Another common sign of presbyopia is constantly needing to or trying to turn up the lighting around you. Bright lighting helps to reduce eye strain when you read smaller print. But if you are truly experiencing presbyopia, no amount of lighting increase will help the lens of your eye focus any better.
Feeling Tired & Fatigued
You would likely benefit from reading glasses if you find yourself feeling overly tired during/after activities like reading, sewing, or working on anything up close. This symptom can easily go unnoticed for a long time because effects can be so gradual. Your body will slowly accept your new normal over time, and you may not be able to snap out of this cycle until you try reading glasses. It may not even dawn on you until you read this, therefore take a moment to reflect if this describes you!
Experiencing Frequent Headaches
This symptom is the more in-your-face outcome of the fatigue effect mentioned above. Headaches are never fun, and experiencing them whenever you read would get extremely frustrating. That said, the silver lining is you have direct feedback from your eyes that a change needs to be made. This problem can ultimately lead you to the solution of reading glasses much faster because a headache can’t typically be ignored.
Our recommendation at this point is to not get overzealous when choosing your lens power. What we mean is, choose a lens magnification that is appropriate for you. Try resisting the temptation of picking the strongest power available because you think it will help your headaches and eyestrain that much more. Choosing a lens magnification that is too strong can also lead to headaches.
Things to Consider When Choosing Reading Glasses
In most instances over the counter reading glasses will work for nearly everyone, as long as they choose a reasonable lens magnification as we discussed above. Most eye doctors would even admit the occasional use of such devices won’t cause any damage or long-term vision effects.
Frame Fit
Unlike prescription glasses from your eye doctor, over the counter reading glasses, no matter how nice, can’t be customized for your eyes. This means you will need to be diligent when searching to find a pair that is an appropriate fit. Finding a pair of readers that has a frame width and bridge with a proper fit will drastically help optical quality. A well fitting frame will align the optical center of the lens with the center of your eye. This is the ideal position and can solve many potential issues right from the start.
Magnification
Choosing the correct lens magnification or power will ultimately remain the most crucial choice you make. Most brands will have a magnification chart that will guide you to the correct lens diopter for your eyes. The diopters (magnification) typically start at +1.00 and commonly go to +3.50. Although you may be capable of finding powers stronger than +3.50, we recommend you head to your local eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam before choosing a magnification that strong. To get an idea of the power, you may need, check out our reading glasses power chart.
Build & Material Quality
When shopping for a pair of readers you may experience the temptation to merely select the cheapest pair you can find. It may be possible to find a decent pair of reading glasses this way, but that typically isn’t the outcome. Often, cheaper reading glasses will be poorly made and feature inferior materials. They also will likely seriously lack quality control, especially in the optics department.
Eyestrain and headaches are frequently associated with discount reading glasses due to the manufacturers’ inability to consistently produce clear, centered optics. You will often find lenses may be distorted or even include impurities which can drastically affect vision quality.
We definitely love the idea of over-the-counter readers and think they remain an excellent option for most people to try before spending a few hundred dollars at the local optician’s office. That said, we would gladly spend a little more money on a pair of high quality over-the-counter reading glasses to avoid quality issues.
Intro to Reading Glasses FAQ:
Are reading glasses just for more elderly people?
No! Reading glasses are not specifically reserved for those that qualify for Medicare. More seriously, many young adults in their late 20’s to early 30’s are discovering a need for reading glasses. The increased physical stress from computer and phone screens is having a profound impact on younger eyes causing premature fatigue and thus, decreased lens flexibility.
If you’re in your 20’s and 30’s and think you may need reading glasses, we recommend you start with a visit to your local ophthalmologist. If your eye correction needs are minimal enough, you could likely get away with only occasionally needing reading glasses.
Will reading glasses work as well as traditional prescription glasses?
There are a few brands of reading glasses (Scojo New York, Eyebobs, Corinne McCormack and Kate Spade to name a few) that have very good optics and can rival the quality of $400+ prescription glasses. That said, they are limited on just how much they can assist you. If you suffer from astigmatism or you have different magnification needs for each eye, off the shelf reading glasses may not work the best for you.
If imbalanced vision is all you are dealing with (different powers for each eye) you may be able to find some brands that are willing to customize a pair of off the shelf reading glasses to accommodate your needs. That said, we don’t speak for the manufacturers or brands and can’t guarantee this.
What is the difference between lens diopter & magnification?
Diopter refers to the power or magnification of a lens. There is a much more technical explanation of what exactly diopter is, but nearly every manufacturer and brand use it to refer to the lens magnification. Most brands carry lens powers from +1.00 to +3.50, but you can find some as high as +5.00.
We wouldn’t recommend any power over +3.50 for an off the shelf reader as anything stronger should warrant a visit to your eye doctor first. In fact, some states technically maintain laws over how strong the lenses in over the counter reading glasses can be. This is something that would likely never be enforced, but it does provide an example of the how serious choosing the correct visual devices can be.
Does using reading glasses weaken your eyes?
Reading glasses, or any prescription eyewear for that matter, are designed to aid vision only while being worn. They can’t improve or cure your vision permanently nor can they damage your eyes permanently. You can, however, experience eyestrain and headaches if your magnification is too strong or too weak.
Conclusion
Now that you’re quickly becoming a expert, be sure to closely look over that next or first pair of reading glasses before pulling the trigger. Really make sure the quality, optics, and fit are up to your standards to ensure a good experience while wearing them. If you think you are on your way to needing reading glasses then be sure to check out our section of reading glasses related articles here. There you will find many great topics and resources to help you toward that next great pair of readers!
If you aren’t sure where to begin, you can check out our curated collections (coming soon) of reading glasses and sun readers to help get you started!
Did we miss something? Have a comment or suggestion? Be sure to leave your comments and feedback below!
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