How to tell if you need reading glasses

Your eyes, like any other part of the body, can begin to change as you age. Once you are over the age of 40, the natural internal lenses in your eyes start to become less flexible. When this inflexibility starts to affect your close reading, the condition is called presbyopia. It is a common condition. Thankfully, it is easy to resolve by wearing prescrip eyeglasses. The question, though, is how do you tell when you need reading glasses?

Top signs you need reading glasses

The first obvious sign that reading glasses are in your near future is when the objects that you are reading up-close become fuzzy. For example, the print in a book is blurry.

More about blurriness

Often, people find that moving the book further away from their eyes temporarily corrects the issue, which is why you see actors do it so often on TV shows! A better solution is to find a pair of reading glasses to help correct the problem.

Other signs that you may need reading glasses are:

Your eyes become tired more easily

When the lens in your eye becomes inflexible, it means that your eyes need to work harder. This can make your eyes feel tired or strained after a period of close reading. If you notice this fatigue, it’s time to see an eye doctor for a test to determine your current vision.

It’s more difficult to see in dim light

A classic situation is where you are in a softly lit restaurant trying to read the menu. If you have presbyopia then making out the words can become much more difficult. While the soft lights set the mood, they’re tough on the eyes.

Headaches is a way to tell if you need reading glasses

If you are consistently straining your eyes, you will often get headaches. That’s particularly true when you are trying to read a book, newspaper, computer, or anything else. Find out other possible reasons for constant headaches in this recent post.

Your eyes hurt

Sometimes it can hurt your eyes to read or do other close work like sewing as a result of needing reading glasses. This discomfort can take away the enjoyment of a hobby, so going to see an eye doctor sooner rather than later is important.

If you are experiencing any of the four symptoms above, it’s a good idea to speak with an optician. This professional will be able to advise you.

What strength do you need?

If you decide to choose a pair of reading glasses yourself, like the ones you often see at the drugstore, you can tell how strong they are from the number that’s on their tag. The numbers run between 1.00 and 4.00 diopters, usually increasing in increments of 0.25. The higher the number, the stronger the prescription.

Test out your potential reading glasses by holding a book or a magazine between 14 and 16 inches from your face. See which pair gives you the best improvement.

Bear in mind that if you have a different level of sight in each eye or any other vision condition such as short-sightedness, reading glasses may not be the right option. In these cases, see your optician.

Once you realize you need reading glasses, find ones that suit you

The best reading glasses are ones that suit your face shape. When you find a pair that complements your face, they can be an accessory that looks great in addition to being so useful!

Some general rules when choosing glasses are:

• Square face shapes can soften their edges with oval glasses, or a stylish cat-eye
• Heart-shaped faces look great in rimless glasses, or again the trusty oval
• Oval faces look great in large rounded frames, or perhaps a cat-eye shape

Do you wear reading glasses? Or, are you like me where you need glasses all the time to see clearly?