As we get older, our eyes become weaker. It becomes harder to focus on nearby objects. We may find ourselves squinting at our devices or holding objects at arms length just to make out the details.
This condition is called presbyopia. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), this phenomenon is often observed in individuals beginning from the age of 40. It occurs because the lens of our eyes becomes less flexible with time, which affects our eyes’ focusing abilities.
People with this condition often use reading glasses to help them see better. Reading glasses magnify text and objects within close range, making it easier to focus our eyes.
How to Know if You Need Reading Glasses?
Here are some indicators that you might need a pair of reading glasses:- You have to hold books or even your phone at arm’s length to see things clearly.
- You squint or strain your eyes when reading.
- You suffer from headaches after reading or using your devices.
- You are already above 40-the age when presbyopia generally starts to manifest.
- Your close-range vision improves dramatically.
- You experience less stress on your eyes and fewer headaches.
- Reading becomes a lot more enjoyable.
What Is Magnification?
We measure the strength of reading glasses using a unit called a diopter. Generally, reading glasses run from +1.00 to +4.00 in strength and increase by +0.25 or +0.5 diopter increments.Finding the glasses with the right magnification is extremely important. You don’t want it to be too strong, or it’ll cause blurry vision, headaches, and problems with depth perception.
If they are too weak, you’ll experience eye strain, distorted vision, and headaches.
Note that you’ll require different magnifications, depending on the activities you engage in per time:
- Reading books and texts requires the use of your prescribed magnification.
- When working on a computer, you only need half the power of your regular reading glasses. For example, if you usually use +2.00 for normal reading, then you should use +1.00 for the computer.
- The use of tablets and mobile devices requires the same strength as your regular reading glasses.
How to Find Your Perfect Magnification
How do you find your perfect magnification? Here are a few methods you can try:- Consult an Eye Doctor: For the most accurate assessment, nothing beats a professional eye exam. An eye doctor can pinpoint exactly what strength you need for both eyes, as well as any other challenges you may have with your vision.
- Online Eye Tests: Online eye tests are not a replacement for the standard in-person consultation. They are useful for a quick renewal of expired glasses prescriptions. It is highly recommended you see a professional routinely to get your eyes checked.
- Diopter Reading Test Cards: Many shops that sell reading glasses have a test card with different sizes of text. However, most of them only go up to a +3.25 strength magnification. Before you buy reading glasses, try on several strengths and see which one enables you to read the text clearly at a comfortable distance.
Finding the Perfect Frame Styles
Here’s a quick guide to picking a frame style that suits your face shape:- Oval Face: You’re in luck. Most styles will look good on you. But you’ll look your best in rectangular or square frames.
- Round Face: Geometric shapes, rectangular, square, or cat eye frames add angles to your features and create a pleasant contrast.
- Square Face: Soften your angular features with round or oval frames.
- Heart-shaped face: You can balance a wider forehead with frames that sit wider at the bottom. Rectangular, oval, or square frames will look good on you.
- Long Face: Select wider, bolder type frames to make your face look shorter.
- Plastics: These are light, cheap, and come in more varieties of colors and styles.
- Metals: These tend to have a more classic look and are significantly more durable but might be slightly heavier in weight.
Lens Materials and Coatings
Lens Materials:- Standard Plastic: It’s the most affordable option, but it scratches easily.
- Polycarbonate: They are strong and impact-resistant. Recommended for people with active lives.
- Trivex: This is also very strong and impact-resistant, and it’s lighter than polycarbonate.
- High-index Plastic: If you need a stronger prescription, you don’t have to settle for thick and heavy lenses. High-index plastic is thin and lightweight.
- Scratch-resistant coating: Scratched-up glasses cause light scattering and vision distortion. The scratch-resistant coating will help protect your lenses against everyday wear and tear.
- Anti-reflective coating: Reflections on your glasses can cause glare and eye strain. Anti-reflective coatings reduce these reflections and enable users to see sharper, clearer images.
- Blue light coating: Blue light coating is a great solution for people who suffer from oversensitivity to light or suffer from regular migraines. They also help people who experience difficulty falling asleep after using digital devices close to bedtime.
Vision correction. Man wearing glasses on blurred background, closeup Shutterstock
Recommended Reading Glasses
If you prioritize quality and comfort in your reading glasses, you can’t go wrong with PROSPEK reading glasses. Not only are they stylish and long-lasting, they are also lightweight and functional.Here’s why we recommend PROSPEK:
- Broad Magnification Range: PROSPEK has reading glasses with magnifications from 0 to 3.00. Whatever your need, you’ll find it here.
- Blue Light Protection: PROSPEK glasses come with built-in blue light-filtering technology. Users notice less eye strain while using digital devices.
- Variety of Styles: They offer many different options of women’s, men’s, and unisex glasses that are stylish, functional, and versatile.
- Highly Rated: Customers consistently give PROSPEK glasses positive reviews for their quality, comfort, and effectiveness.
- Yellow Lens Option: PROSPEK has a special line of reading glasses with yellow lenses. They block out up to 99% of blue light and are particularly beneficial for people with light sensitivity or those prone to migraines.
Caring for Your Reading Glasses
Once you’ve found your perfect pair of reading glasses, you'll want to care for them to keep them in great shape. Here are a few tips:- Clean them often with a lens cleaner and a microfiber cloth.
- Store them in a protective case when not in use.
- Never leave them in hot cars or under direct sunlight, as heat can damage lenses and frames.
- If your glasses get bent out of shape, take them to an eye care professional to have them adjusted; do not try to bend them back into shape yourself.
FAQs
Do I need an eye exam to get reading glasses?Even though you can acquire reading glasses without a prescription, you still need regular eye exams for overall health check-ups for your eyes.
Are non-prescription reading glasses suitable for me?
Non-prescription reading glasses are fine for people who don’t use corrective lenses or have astigmatism. However, they may not be as effective if you need different lens strengths for each eye.
Can I wear my reading glasses all day?
It is not advisable to wear reading glasses all day. Especially when performing activities like walking or driving that require your peripheral vision. Doing so can cause eye strain or discomfort.
