Reading glasses are a common and convenient way to improve your near vision, especially if you have presbyopia, a blurry vision that affects most people over 40. Presbyopia causes the lens of your eye to lose its flexibility and ability to focus on close-up objects, making them appear blurry. Reading glasses can help you see clearly when you read, write, use your phone, or do other near tasks.
But can you wear reading glasses all the time? Is it bad for your eyes to wear them when you don’t need them? Will wearing them make your vision worse or cause other eye problems? In this article, we will answer these questions and more, so you can make informed decisions about your eye health and vision correction.
What happens if you use reading glasses all the time?
Reading glasses are designed to provide a slight magnification for near vision, usually ranging from +1.00 to +4.00 diopters. They are not meant to correct other vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. They are also not meant to be worn for distance vision, as they can make things appear blurry or distorted.
If you use prescription reading glasses all the time, even when you don’t need them, you may experience some negative effects, such as:
- Eye strain: Wearing reading glasses for long periods can cause your eyes to work harder than they need to, resulting in fatigue, headaches, and dryness.
- Digital eye strain: If you use reading glasses for the computer or other digital devices, you may be exposed to more blue light than usual, which can cause eye irritation, blurred vision, and sleep problems.
- Dependency: If you wear reading glasses all the time, you may get used to them and feel uncomfortable without them. This can make you dependent on them and reduce your natural focusing ability.
- Wrong prescription: If you wear reading glasses that are not the right prescription for your eyes, you may not get the best vision possible. You may also experience eye strain, headaches, and dizziness.
Can reading glasses be used all the time?
The answer to this question depends on your individual needs and preferences for wearing glasses. Some people may benefit from wearing reading glasses all the time, while others may not. Here are some factors to consider:
- Your age: As you get older, your presbyopia may worsen and you may need stronger reading glasses or multifocal lenses to see clearly at different distances. You may also need more frequent eye exams to check your eye health and prescription.
- Your lifestyle: If you do a lot of near tasks throughout the day, such as reading, writing, sewing, or using digital devices, you may find it convenient to wear reading glasses all the time. However, if you also do a lot of distance tasks, such as driving, watching TV, or playing sports, you may need to switch between different pairs of glasses or use multifocal lenses that can accommodate both near and far vision.
- Your eye condition: If you have other eye problems besides presbyopia, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, you may need prescription glasses or contact lenses that can correct your vision both near and far. Reading glasses alone may not be enough or suitable for your eyes.
Why do you need reading glasses?
You need reading glasses if you have presbyopia, which is a normal part of aging that affects your near vision. Presbyopia occurs with age when the lens of your eye becomes less flexible and less able to change its shape to focus on close-up objects. This makes them appear blurry or out of focus.
Reading glasses can help you have clear vision when you do near tasks by providing a slight magnification that compensates for the loss of focusing ability of your lens. They can also reduce eye strain and headaches that may result from squinting or holding things too close to your eyesight.
You may need reading glasses if you experience any of these signs:
- You have difficulty reading small print or seeing details up close
- You have to hold things farther away from your eyes to see them clearly
- You have trouble focusing on near objects after looking at something far away
- You experience eye fatigue, headaches, or blurred vision after doing near tasks
What should you know about using reading glasses for the computer?
Using reading glasses for the computer can be helpful if you have presbyopia and spend a lot of time working or browsing online. However, there are some things you should know before buying or wearing reading glasses for the computer:
- You may need a different strength than your regular reading glasses: The optimal strength of reading glasses for the computer depends on the distance between your eyes and the screen. Typically, this distance is longer than between your eyes and a book or a phone. Therefore, you may need a lower prescription than your regular reading glasses for the computer. For example, if you use +2.00 diopters for reading books, you may need +1.50 diopters for the computer.
- You may benefit from blue light glasses: Blue light is a type of high-energy visible light emitted by digital devices such as computers, phones, and tablets when you wear glasses. It can cause eye strain, blurred vision, and sleep problems if exposed to it for long periods. Blue light glasses filter out some of the blue light and protect your eyes from its harmful effects. They can also enhance contrast and reduce glare on the screen.
- You should take breaks and blink often: Even if you use reading or blue light glasses for the computer, it is important to take breaks and often blink to prevent digital eye strain. The American Optometric Association recommends following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This can help relax your eyes and reduce fatigue. You should also blink frequently to keep your eyes moist and avoid dryness.
Common questions about your glasses prescription
Your glasses prescription tells you the power and characteristics of the lenses you need to correct your vision. Here are some common questions and answers about it:
- How do I get it? You need an eye exam by an eye doctor who will measure your visual acuity and refractive error using various tests and instruments.
- How do I read it? It consists of several numbers and abbreviations that indicate the following:
- Sphere (SPH): The power needed to correct your nearsightedness or farsightedness. A negative number means you are nearsighted, and a positive number means you are farsighted.
- Cylinder (CYL) and Axis (AXIS): The power and direction needed to correct your astigmatism, a condition where your eye is not perfectly round but slightly oval-shaped.
- Add (ADD): The additional power needed to correct your presbyopia if you use multifocal lenses. It is added to the sphere number for near vision.
- Pupillary Distance (PD): The distance between the centers of your pupils when looking straight ahead. It is used to align the optical centers of your lenses with your pupils.
- How often should I update it? You should update it whenever there is a significant change in your vision or eye health. This can vary depending on your age, lifestyle, and medical history. Generally speaking,
- Children should have their eyes checked every year or as recommended by their eye doctor
- Adults aged 18 to 60 should have their eyes checked every two years or as recommended by their eye doctor
- Adults aged 61 and older should have their eyes checked every year or as recommended by their eye doctor
Is it bad to wear reading glasses if I have perfect vision?
If you have perfect vision, you do not need reading glasses to see clearly at any distance. However, you may choose to wear them for other reasons, such as:
- Cosmetic reasons: You may like how reading glasses look on you or want to change your appearance.
- Blue light protection: You may want to protect your eyes from the blue light emitted by digital devices, which can cause eye strain, blurred vision, and sleep problems. Blue light glasses can filter out some of the blue light and reduce its harmful effects.
- UV protection: You may want to protect your eyes from the ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, which can damage your eyes and increase your risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. UV glasses can block most of the UV rays and shield your eyes from them.
However, if you wear reading glasses that are too strong for your eyes, you may experience some negative effects, such as:
- Eye strain: Wearing reading glasses that are too strong can make your eyes work harder than they need to, resulting in fatigue, headaches, and dryness.
- Dependency: Wearing reading glasses that are too strong can make you dependent on them and reduce your natural focusing ability.
- Wrong prescription: Wearing reading glasses that are not right for your eyes can prevent you from getting the best vision possible. You may also experience eye strain, headaches, and dizziness.
Therefore, if you wear reading glasses for any reason, you should ensure they are the right prescription for your eyes. You should also consult your eye doctor before buying or wearing any pair of reading glasses to make sure they are suitable and safe for you.