What is the purpose of reading glasses?

As people age, many begin to notice increased strain on their eyes when reading books, checking text messages, or performing small tasks. This common phenomenon is called presbyopia (or age-related farsightedness).

Core Function Revealed: How do reading glasses work?

Simply put, reading glasses compensate for the decline in the eye's ability to focus at close range using convex lenses (positive power lenses).

Compensating for Insufficient Focus

As we age, the lens in our eyes gradually hardens, and the ciliary muscle's ability to adjust decreases, making it difficult to focus images of nearby objects clearly on the retina. Wearing reading glasses, the increased light refraction (positive power) of the lenses compensates for the eye's lost accommodative power.

Bringing the Focus Closer

They effectively "bring" the virtual focus of nearby objects closer, ensuring that light entering the eye falls precisely on the retina, allowing for clear reading or other close-up activities.

In short, reading glasses are essential for helping presbyopic individuals restore normal reading distance and reading comfort.

How to determine if you need reading glasses?

If you experience any of the following symptoms, it might be time to consider getting a pair of reading glasses:

• Increased reading distance: You need to hold books or your phone further and further away to see the text clearly.
• Close-up eye strain: Your eyes easily become sore, painful, or watery after prolonged reading.
• Increased lighting requirements: Reading small print becomes very difficult in dimly lit environments (such as restaurants), requiring stronger lighting.
• Headache and discomfort: You experience mild headaches or discomfort after doing close-up work.
  
  

Important reminder: Before purchasing reading glasses, it is recommended to have a professional eye exam to determine the accurate presbyopia prescription and whether there are any other refractive errors (such as myopia or astigmatism) that need correction.

Types of Reading Glasses and Selection Recommendations

There are more than one type of reading glasses on the market. Understanding the different types will help you choose the most suitable glasses:

Single-focal reading glasses

Features: Lenses have only a single reading prescription, simple structure, and are usually affordable.

Suitable for: Only worn for close-up work (such as reading or threading a needle), and not needed at other times, requiring frequent removal and replacement.

Bifocal/Trifocal Glasses

Features: Multiple prescriptions (far, intermediate, and near) on a single lens, with clear boundaries between the different prescription areas.
Suitable for: People who need to see distant, intermediate, and near objects clearly simultaneously and do not mind the boundaries on the lenses.

Progressive Multifocal Glasses

Features: Smooth, seamless transition in lens power from top to bottom, aesthetically pleasing, and providing a more natural and continuous field of vision.

Suitable for: People who wish to wear glasses for extended periods, do not want to frequently change or remove them, and prioritize aesthetics and comfort.

Professional optometrists will recommend the most suitable type of reading glasses based on your eye habits, occupation, and presbyopia, ensuring both reading clarity and wearing comfort.

Summary

Reading glasses are not just for correcting vision; they are a guarantee of quality of life. A suitable pair of reading glasses allows you to continue enjoying reading, easily handle daily tasks, and reduce the frustration and anxiety caused by blurred vision.

If you are suffering from presbyopia, do not buy unsuitable glasses on your own. Instead, seek professional help to have a pair of reading glasses custom-made for you, regaining clear and comfortable near vision.