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Reading glasses

Posted bylaura Leave a comment on Reading glasses
Home ⁄ Optical Centre ⁄ Glossary ⁄ Reading glasses
Home ⁄ Optical Centre ⁄ Glossary ⁄ Reading glasses
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Reading glasses

By Isabella Sara Novack
Reviewed by Maria Horan FBDO
Maria Horan FBDO

Reviewed by

Maria Horan FBDO
Maria holds a BSc Honours in Ophthalmic Dispensing and has over 17 years of optical experience.
Updated On Mar 18, 2025
Glasses designed to help with close-up tasks like reading, sewing, or using a smartphone. Reading glasses typically have single vision lenses with a positive diopter value, correcting the difficulty to focus on close objects caused by presbyopia.

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Reading Glasses

Magnifying lenses to help you improve close range vision

Reading

Glasses

What are reading glasses?

Reading glasses are designed with high quality lenses that magnify and make it easier to see or read anything up close.

What are reading glasses?

Reading glasses are designed with high quality lenses that magnify and make it easier to see or read anything up close.
Image Image
Image Image

Do I need reading glasses?

As we get older, our eyes weaken, and we begin to lose the ability to focus on objects up-close. Reading glasses feature magnifying lenses which enlarge anything in our viewing area, making close range items like text look clearer.

Reader glasses strengths

The strength of the lenses, called diopters, will vary based on your age, vision and how you use your glasses. A +1.00 pair indicates a strength of one diopter. Diopter levels usually increase by +0.5 and range from +1.00 to +4.00.
Range of Focus for reading glasses

Do I need reading glasses?

As we get older, our eyes weaken, and we begin to lose the ability to focus on objects up-close. Reading glasses feature magnifying lenses which enlarge anything in our viewing area, making close range items like text look clearer.

Reader glasses strengths

The strength of the lenses, called diopters, will vary based on your age, vision and how you use your glasses. A +1.00 pair indicates a strength of one diopter. Diopter levels usually increase by +0.5 and range from +1.00 to +4.00.
Range of Focus for reading glasses

Everything you need to know about reading glasses

Recommended frames for reading glasses

Sorry, we could not find the following product IDs in our database: 541036. Please check and use correct values.
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Everything you need to know about reading glasses

Recommended frames for reading glasses

Sorry, we could not find the following product IDs in our database: 541036. Please check and use correct values.
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Shop for Men

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FAQs

Reading glasses are not only designed for reading, but for seeing up-close objects clearer. Whether reading, looking at a tablet, or focusing on another hands-on activity, most people view anywhere between 45 to 55 cm from their eyes. Reading glasses offer lens power optimised for that range.

Reading glasses do not correct visual conditions and are only designed for seeing objects up-close more clearly. Reading glasses are non-prescription and should only be worn by those who do not require a vision prescription and who do not have an astigmatism. If you require a different prescription in each eye, readers are not a good choice as you cannot get them with different prescriptions in each lens. Wearing the wrong prescription will cause eyes to be over or under corrected, leading to eye strain or headaches.

It is not recommended to wear reading glasses if you have astigmatism. Reading glasses do not account for the CYL, causing your vision to remain blurred.

No one should wear reading glasses all day, especially while walking or driving. Wearing reading glasses while doing activities that require a wider scope of vision may cause a headache, eye strain, or even eye damage.

Reading glasses can be purchased over the counter without a prescription, but it is highly recommended that you receive a yearly eye exam to ensure your eyes are healthy.

If this is your first time purchasing reading glasses, you may not know what lens strength is best for you. The best way to find out which power you need is to consult with your eye doctor to ensure you choose the correct one.

FAQ

Reading glasses are not only designed for reading, but for seeing up-close objects clearer. Whether reading, looking at a tablet, or focusing on another hands-on activity, most people view anywhere between 45 to 55 cm from their eyes. Reading glasses offer lens power optimised for that range.

Reading glasses do not correct visual conditions and are only designed for seeing objects up-close more clearly. Reading glasses are non-prescription and should only be worn by those who do not require a vision prescription and who do not have an astigmatism. If you require a different prescription in each eye, readers are not a good choice as you cannot get them with different prescriptions in each lens. Wearing the wrong prescription will cause eyes to be over or under corrected, leading to eye strain or headaches.

It is not recommended to wear reading glasses if you have astigmatism. Reading glasses do not account for the CYL, causing your vision to remain blurred.

No one should wear reading glasses all day, especially while walking or driving. Wearing reading glasses while doing activities that require a wider scope of vision may cause a headache, eye strain, or even eye damage.

Reading glasses can be purchased over the counter without a prescription, but it is highly recommended that you receive a yearly eye exam to ensure your eyes are healthy.

If this is your first time purchasing reading glasses, you may not know what lens strength is best for you. The best way to find out which power you need is to consult with your eye doctor to ensure you choose the correct one.