Who Needs Reading Glasses?

You're probably thinking, why all the fuss about reading glasses? I mean how hard could it be figuring out who needs to wear them? If you're having a hard time reading fine print, then you probably need one. It's also easy to use, right? Don't you just put it on and go on with your daily tasks? But a lot of people don't know this and they tend to spend unnecessarily for tests and consults. So who exactly needs reading glasses and what are the options out there?

Who Needs Them?

As we grow older, it becomes harder and harder to see up-close. At this point, you may need to consider using single-vision reading glasses. Some people use them only when necessary like when doing close work, staring at the monitor, reading a paper file, etc. Others, however, have decided to wear them constantly. It all depends on what type of work you do and what your daily activities are.

Signs And Symptoms

What are the clues telling you that you need to start using reading glasses? Here are a few of them:

1. You need light to read
2. You keep getting headaches
3. You feel tired and sleepy working on the computer
4. You are 40 years old (or above)

What Are The Different Kinds?

Reading glasses come in two main styles: full frames, in which the entire lens is made in the reading prescription, and half-eyes. Full reading glasses are suitable for people who spend a great deal of time concentrating on material close-up. If you try to look up and across the room through the reading lenses, everything appears blurry. On the other hand, half-eyes allow you to look down and through the lenses for near work, and up and over them to see in the distance.

Custom Made or Ready-Made?

Reading glasses can either be custom-made for each individual through an optical dispenser, or they can be purchased ready-made at a pharmacy or department store. One drawback to purchasing ready-made reading glasses is that they are essentially a "one-size-fits-all" type. This means that the prescription is the same in both lenses, and the location of the optical center of the lenses is not customized for each wearer. Most people do not have exactly the same prescription in both eyes, and almost everyone has at least a small amount of astigmatism correction in their prescriptions.