Now that your optometrist has examined your eyes and confirmed that your inability to focus up close is a symptom of presbyopia — reading glasses become your first option in treating it.
In this article, we are going to explore the types of reading glasses.
Who Needs Reading Glasses
Basically, anyone from little kids to adults who encounter problems reading with their natural vision.
If you have to hold a book, magazine, or any other type of reading material at a very close distance in order to see the words clearly, you most likely need reading glasses.
If you already use glasses for distance vision then you might want to consider bifocal lenses that will allow you to read and see objects at a distance at the same time.
Symptoms of presbyopia such as headaches, eye strain, and blurred vision while reading are often aggravated if you try to focus without any type of visual aid such as reading glasses.
If you experience any of the symptoms above, you should have your eyes examined by an ophthalmologist.
Do not go reading glasses shopping before understanding the extent of the problem and what type of reading glasses can fix it.
Types of Reading Glasses
There are two main categories of reading glasses: full frames –in which the entire lens is for reading, and half glass – which sits low on the nose and the user can simply look over it to use their natural vision for seeing objects at a distance.
Full Frame
The full frame reading glasses are great for people who spend a lot of time concentrating on materials that are close up.
Everything will appear blurry if you try to look at an object across the room – that’s because they are designed specifically for reading.
Half Eye
Half eyeglasses give you a little more freedom because you can simply look down and through the small lenses, and look up and over them when you need to look across the room or to look in the distance.
If you are getting reading glasses for the first time then full frame glasses make a better option.
Other types of reading glasses that are prescribed for people who need correction for both near vision and distance vision include bifocal and no-line progressive lenses.
Bifocal Glasses
Bifocal glasses are a combination of two different prescriptions all fitted in one lens.
They are suitable for both farsightedness and nearsightedness.
They usually have focal lengths for correcting the vision of about 12-28 inches from the face and up to 22 inches and beyond for correcting farsightedness.
Bifocal glasses have a clear line separating the nearsighted and farsightedness prescription.
Computer Reading Glasses
Generally, reading glasses are mostly designed for reading printed text in books and similar materials, but not for reading texts on digital or computer screens.
You are most likely going to have difficulty reading text on your computer with reading glasses.
If you are going to be doing a lot of reading on your computer, then you might need to get glasses that are specifically made for that purpose.
Reading Sunglasses
These are basically tinted reading glasses specifically made for reading in sunny conditions, especially in the summer.
They are covered with UV protection and have an anti-reflective outer coating.