I have never worn glasses before, but since I have had a few anniversaries of
turning 39, my eye doctor has now written me a prescription for glasses,
including an “addition” for seeing up close. My friend insists that the magnifiers
from the drugstore work just fine for her and I would be wasting my money. What
is the difference between prescription reading glasses and over-the-counter
reading glasses?
Drugstore readers, dollar-store glasses, cheaters–whatever you call them, they certainly
have their place for some people. However, it is important to understand the distinction
between those and glasses that have been custom-designed for you based on a
comprehensive eye exam and a discussion with your optometrist about your work and
lifestyle requirements.
First of all, I am glad you did not assume that the recent change in your vision is due
only to those anniversaries. There can be many reasons why your visual acuity can
change and it is important to rule out any other causes for a deterioration in your quality
of vision with regular visits to your eye doctor. Secondly, getting a proper prescription
done will tell you whether you may also need a correction for astigmatism or require
dissimilar powers in each eye, which straight magnifying glasses do not offer. Thirdly, if
the ready readers you pick up at the store are too weak or too strong for the focal length
of what you are trying to focus on, or are not centered properly for your eyes, you might
find yourself squinting, leaning in or away from your work, or giving yourself a headache
or backache from eye strain or poor ergonomics. That can quickly drain the fun out of
any activity!
Ready-made reading glasses are like the fast food of the optical world–quick, cheap,
and might leave you feeling queasy. There are many customized solutions available for
mid- to close-range viewing that can make your work or leisure activities more enjoyable
and give you an expanded range of focus for multi-tasking. As someone new to glasses
you might be surprised at all the high-tech options that can make those tasks more
comfortable. At the very least, now that you have a prescription in hand it’s worth asking
your eye care professional if there might be a better tool for your unique lifestyle needs
than a one-size-fits-all approach from a general store.