If you find yourself struggling to focus when you are reading or if you have blurred vision or headaches when you’ve been reading for some time, it may be time to consider reading glasses. There are a number of different kinds of reading glasses for different occasions. Here are a few to consider.
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1. Single Vision
These are the best glasses for most people who are just starting to need reading glasses or who have had basic reading glasses recommended by a doctor. These glasses have the same magnification for the whole lens.
Look for a lens that covers your entire field of vision so you won’t have to hold your head at an angle while you read. These wayfarer reading glasses are a good compromise between lenses that cover your field of vision while also looking stylish.
2. Progressive Lenses
These lenses are quite a bit more expensive than single vision lenses, and they won’t be necessary for most people. However, if you find yourself struggling to see a range of distances near you and further away and single lenses haven’t done the job, progressive lenses may be right for you.
These lenses offer three magnification strengths in each glass. All you need to do to use different magnifications is to tilt your head. These may not be ideal for straightforward reading since you’ll need to hold your head at just the right angle to see the page.
Many people also find that these lenses may tend to cause a headache as your vision changes frequently between magnifications.
3. Bifocal
Bifocal lenses offer two prescriptions so that you can correct both nearsightedness and farsightedness simultaneously. They are often used as primary eyewear. Put things you want to see up close lower in front of you and maintain good vision further away.
Like progressive lenses, bifocals can tend to cause headaches in some people as you switch between magnifications. Difficulty with changing magnification is less likely, however, with these lenses because there are only two magnifications. Still, these lenses may not be ideal for reading, unless it is essential to you that the distance also is magnified while you’re reading.
4. Blue Light Glasses
If you spend a lot of time reading on your tablet or smartphone, it is probably worth investing in blue light glasses. These glasses filter out the blue light found in artificial light sources.
While blue light is normal in natural sunlight, we are overexposed to it because of the blue light that comes from our devices. Reading before you go to bed can result in sleep disturbances and insomnia, since blue light causes a wakeful state.
If you’ve had trouble going to sleep after reading or if you’re experiencing eye strain, blurred vision, and trouble focusing even after using corrective magnification in regular reading glasses, blue light glasses might be the best next step.
5. Task-Specific Glasses
If you spend a tremendous amount of time at a computer and you’re having trouble with your eyes as a result, you may choose task-specific glasses for your needs. To make these glasses, the optometrist will calculate your prescription at the distance that you sit from the screen, creating ideal glasses for the activity that you need them for.
Unless you are doing huge amounts of reading on your computer screen, this probably isn’t necessary for you.
Choose the Best Reading Glasses for Your Needs
The ideal reading glasses for you will offer the perfect magnification and come in a form that is ideal for your lifestyle. For most people, single-lens reading glasses will be sufficient, but if you spend a lot of time reading from a screen, blue light reading glasses may be a better choice. For more complex vision needs, look into some of the more complex lenses.
