Is It Time for Reading Glasses?

Truth be told, the older we get, the more likely we are to need reading glasses. Even those who have undergone LASIK (laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis) surgery for astigmatism, farsightedness or long sightedness may still need reading glasses as time passes by. Although wearing contacts can correct astigmatism, hyperopia, myopia, and even presbyopia, reading glasses may still be necessary for close work.

As you age, your eye muscles that allow you to focus become less elastic. This makes focusing, particularly on things that are close up, a little more difficult. Opticians refer to this aging process as presbyopia. Sadly, this condition happens to us all (not just avid readers, or those with a history of poor vision) and cannot be prevented. It even happens to those who have never worn glasses. Presbyopia typically occurs at 40 years and above, and when it occurs, it becomes very difficult to read anything, especially small print.

When you reach this point, denial becomes useless, and all you can do is get yourself a pair of quality reading glasses. People who have never needed glasses before will often opt for reading glasses rather than progressive or bifocal lenses. These are necessary for those who need aid with both distance and near correction. Since reading glasses are worn only when reading or carrying out close-up work, it is important that you get quality ones that you’ll be able to rely on for a while.

Alternatives to Reading Glasses

Opt for half moon “Benjamin Franklin” style if you do not fancy the idea of wearing full frames. These glasses sit lower down on the nose and are in a position for reading and looking down, but when you raise your eyes to look across the room, you can look above the lenses to see in the distance. Also, there are half-eye readers (a.k.a. Tube Readers, shown below) designed mainly for readers who rarely need reading glasses, and want the smallest frames possible. They’re great for reading a menu in a dimly lit restaurant, for example. The fact that they slip into a pen-sized case means they are perfect for occasional use, anytime and anywhere.

You can also go for tinted reading sunglasses, which are ideal for outdoor use. Although they look more like sunglasses, they have corrective reader lenses with the tint of sunglasses. These make reading outside a lot more enjoyable. Other options include bifocal sunglasses that feature a non-corrective upper half and a reading prescription in the lower half. Some glasses also have trifocal lens implying they have corrections for near, middle, and far vision.

Bottom Line

Presbyopia is a common age-related disorder that makes it difficult for people to focus or see objects up close. It stems from an issue with the lens of the eye that sits behind the pupil and iris. Symptoms of presbyopia include feeling tired from doing up-close work, requiring more light to see close objects, difficulty reading small print, eyestrain, and headaches. Given that it primarily starts at the age of 40, the majority of us have this condition. According to a December 2008 report in the JAMA Ophthalmology journal, around 1.04 billion people in the world had presbyopia in 2005, and this number is expected to rise to 1.37 billion by 2020.

Shop I Heart Eyewear for Stylish and Affordable Reading Glasses

If you’re developing presbyopia and need to find a great looking pair of reading glasses, I Heart Eyewear has you covered! Browse our website for reading glasses for men and women, and use our shopping filters to find just what you’re looking for.