prescription reading glasses

How Do Glasses for Reading Work?

Like we touched on above, prescription reading glasses are worlds away from the magnifying glasses that can be found on store shelves. Rather than just making things bigger, they correct the issues at the root of each individual's vision problem.

For example, if a person has an astigmatism - making vision blurry when trying to read, "reading glasses" from the store will do absolutely nothing to address the problem.

Sure, they'll magnify the text and make it larger, but they won't bring the vision into focus to provide genuine relief.
There are a variety of prescription reading glasses available, like bifocal reading glasses and progressive reading glasses. We'll touch on the differences between the types below.

When Do You Need to Choose Prescription Reading Glasses?

If you're unsure of whether or not it's time to upgrade to a pair of legitimate prescription reading glasses, this section should help. One of the biggest indicators that it's time to buy high quality reading glasses is if you find yourself doing a lot of squinting.

While you may still be able to see enough to get by, squinting is an indicator that your eyes are straining in the process. Glasses for reading will work to take the strain off of your eyes and depending on your unique issues, potentially slow down the progression of the cause.

If you choose to try a pair of magnifying glasses from the store, you might get some relief, but by not having an eye doctor determine the underlying issue, you might be doing your future vision quality a disservice.

Investing in prescription reading glasses now, if deemed appropriate by your eye doctor, could save you a lot of trouble in the future.

Types of Prescription Reading Glasses

There are a few different types of lens options available for those who need prescription reading glasses. Over the course of owning your frames, it may be decided by your eye-doctor that it's in your best interest to switch from one to another.

If that happens, our lens replacement service will enable you to keep your favorite frames and get back to reading well in no time!

The standard processing option takes 3-5 days and comes with free two-way shipping.

Single Vision Reading Glasses
If you have no issues with seeing clearly at a distance, you'll likely only need single-vision reading glasses. This lens option contains one prescription exclusively for correcting vision during reading.

Bifocal Reading Glasses
If you could use some improvement with both reading and distance vision (or diagnosed with presbyopia), bifocals are a budget-friendly choice that will allow you to correct both with one pair of frames.

Progressive Reading Glasses
Progressive glasses are also sometimes called varifocals or no line bifocals. They address the same issue as bifocals, with the addition of being able to accommodate a third prescription for mid-range vision when necessary. Many people who are candidates for bifocals choose to upgrade to progressives due to their smoother, line-free lens appearance.