Do I Need Reading Glasses? (2024)

Age has an effect on your eyes just like it does on your joints and other parts of your body. When you reach your 40s, the natural internal lenses in your eyes become less flexible. They can't focus as easily from near to far vision like they could when you were younger.

As your eyes get less flexible, your close vision gets worse. It's a condition called presbyopia, and it may make you wonder if you need reading glasses.

Here are a few signs that you do:

  • When you hold books and other reading materials up close, they look blurry. You have to hold them farther away to read them.
  • You have trouble seeing smaller print in dim light.
  • Your eyes hurt when you try to read, sew, or do other close work.
  • You get a headache when you try to read.

How to Choose a Strength

If you decide to try a pair of inexpensive "readers" you see at drug stores, look for the number on the tag that's on them. Reading glass power is measured in units called diopters. The lowest strength is usually 1.00 diopters. Glasses go up in strength by factors of .25 (1.50, 1.75, 2.00). The strongest glasses are 4.00 diopters.

Test out a few to see which one works best. Hold a book or magazine 14 to 16 inches away from your face, and see if the glasses make the print easier to read. You might need two different strengths -- one pair for very close reading and one for middle distances like your computer screen.

Choose the weakest (lowest number) glasses that will work for you.

Keep in mind that these glasses might not fit you as well as prescription glasses. They also don't correct astigmatism (a common condition that causes blurred vision), and they can't be adjusted if you need a different strength in each eye.

Also, your vision can change as you get older. You might need to buy a stronger pair of reading glasses in a year or two.

When to See Your Doctor

If your close vision is blurry, make an appointment with your eye doctor for an exam. They can recommend a reading glass strength or write a prescription based on your exam. And it's always a good idea to get checked for other eye issues.

If you need glasses for distance vision as well, you might want to consider bifocals, trifocals, or progressive lenses. Bifocals help you see both close up and far away. Trifocals and progressive lenses adjust for close, middle, and distance viewing.

See your eye doctor right away if:

  • You have any sudden or drastic changes in your vision
  • Everything looks blurry
  • You have pain in your eyes
  • You see flashes of light or halos around lights
  • You have double vision

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that you get a baseline eye exam at age 40. This is when many vision problems, including presbyopia, may start.

After that, you should get exams:

  • Every 1 to 3 years between ages 55 and 64
  • Every 1 to 2 years starting at age 65

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Do I Need Reading Glasses? (2024)

FAQs

How do I know if I need reading glasses? ›

Here are a few signs that you do:
  1. When you hold books and other reading materials up close, they look blurry. You have to hold them farther away to read them.
  2. You have trouble seeing smaller print in dim light.
  3. Your eyes hurt when you try to read, sew, or do other close work.
  4. You get a headache when you try to read.
Mar 7, 2023

Do I really need prescription reading glasses? ›

OTC reading glasses don't require a prescription from your optometrist. Instead, they have different levels of magnification. Most are between +0.50 and +5.00. The higher the magnification, the higher the strength of the reading glasses.

Is it better not to use reading glasses? ›

Reading glasses can help, but some people put off wearing them because they've heard that readers could make their vision worse. Optometrist Brian Kit, O.D., who sees patients at America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses stores in Los Angeles, says this common belief is actually a myth.

Does everyone need reading glasses after 40? ›

Ophthalmologists say that just about everyone has some degree of vision loss by middle age, which makes it hard to see fine print that you're trying to read. The condition is called presbyopia; it's part of normal aging. The lens in your eyes change slowly, year after year.

Can you have 20 20 vision and still need reading glasses? ›

But if your vision is already 20/20, you may still need glasses or contacts to correct other refractive errors like astigmatism or hyperopia (farsightedness), it's possible you may still need glasses.

What are the disadvantages of using reading glasses? ›

Often times headaches and nausea can result from wearing the wrong prescription of readers or may have optical centers far from your pupil centers. This is why we recommend having an eye doctor specialist do an eye exam.

Are reading glasses just magnifiers? ›

Misleadingly called “magnifiers”

According to the FDA, over-the-counter reading glasses are categorized as “magnifying spectacles”, which is unintentionally misleading to many consumers. This is because the primary function of these convex lenses is to improve the focus of near objects.

Are cheap reading glasses as good as expensive ones? ›

The reading glasses available at your local drugstore or dollar store are perfectly safe, say Yuen and Madan. They're just lower quality, and not the most effective. “The glasses that are over the counter are very simple magnifiers,” says Madan. “They are equal in each eye; one size fits all.

Can you suddenly need reading glasses? ›

Your vision can change quickly, so even if it has been less than a year since your first exam, call the office if you are experiencing vision challenges.

Are dollar store reading glasses bad for your eyes? ›

They won't damage your vision, per se. However, there are many factors that affect how well cheap reading glasses will work for you. You need to understand that the quality of a $1 pair of reading glasses won't be great. The lenses will be basic and easy to scratch.

Is it okay to wear readers all the time? ›

Wearing reading glasses all day won't hurt your eyes, but you want to make sure you're only wearing them for reading, using your phone and other up-close tasks. Donning a pair of reading glasses is an easy way to enhance your vision while reading a book, tablet or phone screen.

What percentage of people need reading glasses? ›

According to The Vision Council, 34.5 million Americans (13.2 percent) wear over-the-counter reading glasses—and most who do are over 45. But according to our experts, you should take action sooner, at age 40, when you might initially realize you have resting squint face.

Why can I suddenly see better without my glasses? ›

What Could Cause Sudden Vision Improvements? It's much more common for vision improvements to be caused by medical conditions than lifestyle changes. Conditions like diabetes, cataracts, or even the development of something called “second sight” could be what's causing your vision to suddenly be better.

How do I know if I need readers? ›

You Have To Hold Reading Material Far Away

The most common indicator that you need reading glasses is holding reading material farther away to see it more clearly. Think of the last time you were at a restaurant. Did you need to hold the menu at arm's length in order to read it?

What is the average age to start wearing reading glasses? ›

Everyone is different, but most patients get their first pair or readers sometime between the ages of 41-60.

Is there an online test for reading glasses? ›

Online Eye Test by Luxreaders

Our simple, indicative vision test helps you with a quick overview to identify the strength you need when buying reading glasses. Our more in-depth and newest online vision test which is developed by us, is also available.

Is it okay to wear reading glasses without needing them? ›

If you don't already need to wear regular eyeglasses, they may even be fine for longer. But cheap readers only magnify the print to help you read it. They are not specific to your individual eye's needs. They probably won't harm your eyesight, but you may experience headaches and eye strain if you use them too much.

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