At a certain age, most of us will need to wear reading glasses, even if we have never worn prescription frames before. In fact, according to the Vision Council, as many as 28 million Americans wear over-the-counter reading glasses – it’s just part of the life of many. This is why finding the best pair of reading glasses is so crucial.
What are reading glasses?
Reading glasses are magnifying glasses, which means they help people see things (most often text) up close, says Tal Raviv, MD, founder and medical director of the Eye Center in New York. Although they are available both over the counter and by prescription, they are often used by people who did not yet need glasses. Around 40 or 50, he explains, an age-related condition called presbyopia begins to affect many of us, preventing our natural lenses from focusing closely. Your presbyopia will most likely continue to get worse until around age 65, when it begins to stabilize, for example Mayo Clinic.
There are an “endless number” of ways to get your hands on readers, which typically range from +1 to +2.75, says Dr. Raviv. So while the good news is that reading glasses are available virtually everywhere from convenience store to Amazon, the bad news, unfortunately, is that finding the right pair can seem like a Herculean task. With so many options, how can you be sure you’re choosing the right frames and prescriptions for you?
How to choose the best reading glasses
Be prepared for trial and error. If you’re new to readers, it’s perfectly okay to have to try out a few highlights before you find the magnification that’s right for you, says Dr. Raviv. He recommends starting with a +1 pair and working your way up (or down) until you feel good. The best way to find out, however, is to do an eye exam, “just to make sure we haven’t missed anything,” he explains.
Balance affordability with sustainability. “You can have readers literally at the dollar store, and they work well,†says Dr. Raviv, but they’re most likely plastic, and they might not last as long as the more expensive ones. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends opting for metal frames and lenses with anti-scratch, anti-reflective, and anti-UV coatings, which come with higher price tags.
Think about your lenses. Most readers have one magnification level for the entire objective. You can also consider bifocals, which combine glasses (taking over the top of the glasses) with reading glasses (making up the bottom tape of the glasses) – they alleviate the need for multiple pairs of glasses. Although Dr. Raviv says virtually any shape will work, half-size lenses are best for people without other vision problems, while larger lenses allow for bifocal prescriptions, notes the AAO.
Ready to choose the best pair of reading glasses? Read on to find our top picks, which start at just over $ 5 per pair.
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