Reading Glasses: Just Magnification Lenses In Frames?

Magnifying glasses and readers work the same way by making the nearby images appear larger. But, this doesn’t make them totally similar.

Off-the-rack readers are just two magnification lenses fixed on a frame. They are available at your drugstore or local optical shop and come with a magnification strength that ranges from +1.00 to 3.50 diopters.

These off-the-shelf reading glasses work for people who need the same dioptric power on both the lenses. But what about people who have varying refractive powers in both the eyes. And, what if you develop astigmatism in your 40s? We bet your non-prescription readers won’t be able to correct that.

When we talk about prescription reading glasses, they are much more than two magnification lenses mounted on a frame. And they can be used for more than one refractive error. Let’s know about them in detail.

When does one need reading glasses?

Readers help people with presbyopia to see nearby objects with more clarity.

Presbyopia is a normal ageing condition of our eye whereby the crystalline lens inside them becomes hard which causes a shift in our near focal point.

Presbyopia starts in your 40s and progresses gradually if you don’t do anything about it. This is why people in their 40s often hold the reading material at an arm’s length. However, this practice puts extra pressure on your eyes and you may feel fatigue, headache or eye strain.

If you are also in your 40s and started to have trouble performing close up tasks such as reading, sewing or computer work, you could use a pair of reading glasses.

Age is not the only factor that leads to presbyopia. People who have diabetes, cardiovascular disease, anaemia or hyperopia are more at risk of developing premature presbyopia.

Off-the-rack readers vs prescription readers

When we notice a decline in our near vision as a result of ageing, we just hit the nearest optical shop and get a pair of off-the-shelf readers. But, is this practice safe? And how do you determine that all your eyes need is a magnification power?

Whenever you observe a change in your vision, you must seek an optician’s help. They are well-equipped and well-versed to tell you about your vision problem and guide you through the best solution.

It could be possible that what you were thinking to be presbyopia was actually hyperopia. In this scenario, reading glasses won’t be of any good. You’ll need to look for a pair of prescription glasses online instead.

Why choose prescription reading glasses?

Whether you want a prescription power for your readers depends on your vision condition. They are designed to be used for long periods of time and are most suitable for the people above 40 who have a refractive error.

Readers with magnification lenses don’t correct astigmatism or any other vision condition. They only help in magnifying the near vision field which is not helpful when your distant vision is also blurry.

If you are wondering, “Why should I buy prescription reading glasses when I can buy a pair of cheap readers at the drugstore?”, read below:

• The dioptric power in the OTC readers is the same in both the lenses. If you need a different prescription for each eye, looking through the OTC readers will invite eye strain and headaches.
• OTC reading glasses don’t do anything towards correcting common refractive error but the ones with prescription do.
• Over-the-counter readers have pre-defined magnification strength and standard size. In some cases, you will be looking through the side of your lens and not the optical center of the lens.
• Every person has astigmatism be it mild or severe. Prescription readers give you a better vision clarity at far distances as they do for nearby objects.
• If you also have hyperopia, OTC readers will be of no use for you.

Who can benefit from magnifiers?

If you’ve had an eye exam and your optician told you that you only have normal age-related presbyopia, you can benefit from equal prescription in both the lenses. If the frame fits well and the center of the lens lies just in front of the center of your pupil, you will get maximum clarity with your OTC readers. To make your reading glasses even more stylish, buy glasses online and get quality, affordability and style all at one place.

Make sure you buy not one but multiple pairs of readers as the non-prescription reading glasses are generally economical. Keep the spare pair either in your office, car or your wardrobe so you always have a pair handy in case you lose the original one.

The takeaway

If you have been experiencing age-related changes in your vision, don’t just rush to your local eyewear store or buy a pair of reading glasses online. Make sure you get an eye test and let your optician decide what type of reading glasses will work the best for you.