Unlike other ocular conditions, leaving presbyopia untreated does not cause more harm to your vision or eye health. Without correction, presbyopia can interfere with day-to-day tasks and have an impact on your life, which is when individuals tend to seek treatment for their condition.

Some telltale signs of presbyopia include:

• Blurriness when reading items 12-18 inches from your face
• Squinting to focus on reading materials
• The need for bright light to read clearly
• Eye strain and headaches after reading

↓ Click Infographic To Enlarge ↓

What Causes Presbyopia?

Between the ages of 40 and 65, most people’s eyes go through a change that leads to presbyopia. In a healthy eye, the cornea and the eye’s lens (the clear disc behind your cornea) work together to focus the light that reflects off of an object so you see the object clearly. The lens contracts and expands thanks to the help of a circular muscle, which in turn allows your eye to adjust for your near and distance vision respectively.

When you develop presbyopia, that lens becomes rigid. This hardening of the lens prohibits the eye from contracting to focus on close-up objects. In the image below, you can see how a healthy eye has the light focused on the retina to produce a clear image thanks to a flexible lens. In an eye with presbyopia, the lens doesn’t contract, so the light is channeled to the focal point behind your retina producing a blurry image.

Although this may sound frightening, everyone develops some degree of presbyopia during their life, and a simple visit to your eye doctor for an eye exam can confirm the diagnosis.

Many people associate the need for reading glasses with aging, but don’t let reaching this milestone get you down. There are several easy fixes to correct your reading vision depending on your preferred method of treatment.

If you’ve received a diagnosis of presbyopia and have an eyeglass prescription from your eye care professional, visit our guide on How to Read an Eyeglass Prescription.

Treatment Options

After you’ve received a diagnosis of presbyopia from an eye care professional, you have several options to correct your vision.

Reading Glasses

If you need no other correction or wear contacts that don’t correct for presbyopia, reading glasses can be an affordable option. This is the iconic image people conjure up when they think of this age-related condition.

However, reading glasses aren’t what they used to be! It’s easy to find reading glasses that look like prescription glasses, are fashionable, and are not one-size-fits-all!  Nearly 50% of Americans aged 45-64 wear reading glasses to correct presbyopia according to The Vision Council’s June 2018 VisionWatch Report.

Reading glasses can be purchased through your optometrist if you have a different reading power in each eye, or need a very weak or strong reading power. Reading glasses purchased from an eye care office tend to be significantly more expensive than over-the-counter reading glasses found at Readers.com®, drug stores, dollar stores, or in value packs. Need help determining your reading glasses power? Try our Power Finder guide.

Prescription Glasses

Single Vision

Single vision lenses have one prescription throughout the entire lens that corrects for myopia (nearsightedness) or presbyopia (farsightedness). This type of lens is the most common and is also the traditional lens found in prescription or over-the-counter reading glasses.

Bifocal

Prescription bifocal glasses can correct for nearsightedness and farsightedness within the same lens. The top of the lens has the correction for distance vision, and the lower portion has the correction for close-up vision. Bifocal lenses have a visible line dividing the bifocal area from the rest of the lens.

Trifocal

Similar to a bifocal, a trifocal lens has three focal points and corrections throughout the lens: distance, intermediate, and close-up. Visible lines do appear between the viewing areas.

Progressive

Progressive lenses have three viewing areas, similar to a trifocal. However, progressive lenses have no lines because the power gradually, or progressively, changes throughout the lens. These lenses also eliminate some of the issues bifocal and trifocal wearers experience due to the abrupt power changes and visible lines in the lens.

Surgery

For those who aren’t interested in wearing glasses, surgical options are available to correct presbyopia for qualified candidates.

A somewhat new technique, a corneal inlay can be performed to correct presbyopia. This short procedure inserts a lens into the cornea of one eye to improve near vision. Corneal inlays can be removed or even replaced if vision post-procedure needs to be adjusted.

Another surgical route involves a refractive surgery like LASIK to help correct your vision by creating monovision. These procedures will reshape the cornea to create close-up vision in one eye, and distance vision in the other. Before performing a procedure like this, your eye doctor may recommend trying monovision contact lenses to ensure monovision is right for you.

*Please consult your eye doctor before making a decision about your eye health. The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. See our full disclaimer.

Someone who is going to be wearing readers while handling heavy machinery will likely choose a different lens type than someone who works in an office setting. No matter how you use you readers, there is an option for you!

Lens Materials

While prescription glasses have several different lens material choices, there are two main options for non-prescription reading glasses:

Plastic Lenses

Plastic lenses, also referred to as acrylic lenses, are the most common lens material for over-the-counter reading glasses, and are known for high visual clarity. Plastic lenses are a much more affordable and lightweight alternative to glass lenses, which are used infrequently because of their weight and fragility.

Polycarbonate Lenses

Lightweight and impact-resistant, polycarbonate lenses are used in safety glasses with an ANSI Z87.1 certification, as well as some reading sunglass and rimless reader lenses.

Reading Glasses Lens Types and Uses

Bifocal readers have unmagnified lenses which also contain inserts with the magnification of your choice in the lower portion of the lenses. This type of lens works best for those who are constantly switching from looking down at reading and writing materials to up and off at a distance.

Fully magnified lenses have the magnification of your choice throughout the entire lens. This lens type is commonly worn by those who prefer to only wear their readers when they’re engaged in a task.

Blue light filtering reading glasses provide your eyes with the magnification you need to see the screen clearly, while filtering blue light and glare from your computer screen. Learn more about blue light glasses and their benefits.

Reading sunglasses, also known as SunReaders®️, are readers with tinted lenses to provide UVA/UVB protection for your eyes. Reading sunglasses are available with bifocal or fully magnified lenses and are perfect for any outdoor activity!

Polarized reading sunglasses have the added benefit of a polarized lens, which reduces the sun’s glare and gives you a crisper view. Polarized reading sunglasses are commonly used by those who will be on the water, but they are also a great option for anyone who will be outdoors where the sun’s rays will reflect off of a solid surface.

Reading magnifications above a +4.00 are considered a high reading power and are hard to find in non-prescription reading glasses. Readers.com™ is proud to carry readers up to a +7.00* to help you see more clearly.

Disclaimer: All references to “bifocals” herein refer to readers having unmagnified lenses containing a “bifocal style” single powered reading glass insert located in the lower portion of the lenses.

*Some states have restrictions on the sale of certain reading glasses power and lens types.

How Do I Know If I Need Reading Glasses?

Sometime after the age of 40, you may notice that your vision isn’t what it used to be, but you can still see relatively well. Then one day, the menus at restaurants are a bit blurry and you find yourself squinting. Your eyes feel strained at the end of the day, and you find yourself holding your phone out at an arm’s length to read your text messages. Does this sound like you?

These are some of the most common signs and symptoms that you may be developing presbyopia, the clinical term for what happens to your eyes as you age, creating the need for reading glasses.

Between the ages of 40 and 65, most people’s eyes go through a change that leads to presbyopia. The eye’s lens, which contracts and expands thanks to the help of a circular muscle, becomes less flexible and more rigid over time. This hardening of the lens prohibits the eye from contracting to focus on close-up objects, which is what causes fuzzy vision when trying to read.

Although this may sound frightening, everyone develops some degree of presbyopia during their life, and a simple visit to your eye doctor for an eye exam can confirm the diagnosis. Luckily, there are several easy fixes to correct your reading vision! The most common solution is wearing a pair of reading glasses, also referred to as “readers.” The Vision Council’s VisionWatch Report states that 26.2% of American adults aged 45-54 currently wear reading glasses — you’re not alone!

Finding Your Reading Glasses Power

If you’re going to be buying and wearing reading glasses for the first time, you’ll find the words “reading power,” “reading strength,” “reading magnification,” and “diopter” used interchangeably – they all mean the same thing. When it comes to reading powers, the lower the number, the less magnification there is in the lens. At Readers.com®, we carry powers +1.00 to +7.00, including quarter powers (+.25 increments) and half powers (+.50 increments) so you can get the reading power you need.

There are several ways to determine which reading power is right for you:

Current Eyeglass Prescription

At your annual eye exam, ask your eye doctor what reading power you need.

Power Finder

If you have a current reading glasses prescription with the “ADD” power listed, use our Power Finder Tool to determine the best reading power for you. You can also use this tool if:

• You have a pair of readers that used to work for you, but now things are a bit blurry and you believe you need a stronger power.
• Or to get an estimated reading power based on your age range.

Printable Diopter Chart

This printable chart can be used as a guideline to determine the best reading power for you. If you can see two lines equally clearly, choose the lower power. The chart goes up to a +3.25 power, so if your vision requires a stronger power, we recommend visiting an eye doctor to find your reading power.

Visit our What Reading Glasses Power Do I Need? guide to learn more.

How to Buy Reading Glasses

Beginning your search for a pair of reading glasses may seem daunting, but if you know the answers to the following questions, you’ll be able to find the perfect pair of readers in no time!

What Reading Glasses Lens Type Do I Need?

	Bifocal readers have unmagnified lenses which also contain inserts with the magnification of your choice in the lower portion of the lenses. This lens type is perfect for those who prefer to wear their readers all day, or who look from their reading to distance vision frequently.
	Fully magnified reading glasses have the magnification of your choice throughout the entire lens. This lens type works best for those who only want to wear readers when necessary.
	Computer readers are the best option for those who will be using a computer or other digital device for an extended period of time. Available in fully magnified, multifocal, or unmagnified lenses, special lens coatings, and tints help reduce eye strain.
	Headed outside? Our reading sunglasses are available with bifocal or fully magnified lenses, and will help you see clearly while protecting your eyes from the sun’s UVA/UVB rays.

What’s My Reading Glasses Style?

Knowing your personal style and the frame shape that looks best on you will help you choose the perfect pair of readers! From classic frame colors to playful patterns, very narrow to very wide widths, and any frame shape imaginable, reading glasses aren’t the one-size-fits-all glasses they used to be.

Here’s a printable ruler to help you find a style in a size that will fit you best!

Where can I buy reading glasses?

Many people will debate over the best place to buy reading glasses, and it honestly comes down to what you’re looking for in a pair of reading glasses. Over-the-counter (also called non-prescription) reading glasses are commonly found at drug stores, discount stores, and other retailers, but did you know that you can purchase reading glasses online? If you have all the info mentioned in this guide, you’re set to start shopping! Readers.com® is one of the largest online reading glasses retailers, with more than 500 unique styles! We understand it can be a little harder to buy reading glasses online, which is why we offer a simple 90-day return or exchange policy. 

About Dr. Holly Vaught, OD

Dr. Holly J. Vaught, is the eye doctor at Vaught Family Eye Care in Franklin, Indiana, where she provides comprehensive services for patients of all ages. In 2009, she graduated with honors from Indiana University School of Optometry. Her training includes the areas of diagnosis and treatment of common ocular diseases, primary care, contact lenses, and pre- and post-op care for refractive and cataract surgeries. Dr. Vaught is a member in good standing of the American Optometric Association, the Indiana Optometric Association, and Women of Vision.

Disclaimer: All references to “bifocals” herein refer to readers having unmagnified lenses containing a “bifocal style” single powered reading glass insert located in the lower portion of the lenses.

[Updated: January 2020]