Glasses to Reading

How to Choose Reading Glasses

You knew this day would come, but you were just hoping it would be a little later. When you are trying to read you find yourself squinting just to make out the words. Whether or not you want to admit it, it is clear that you need reading glasses. Even though they may be a sign that you are getting older, once you have them, you will be glad you can read again. Luckily, choosing your own glasses for reading is very easy. You don't even have to see a doctor (although you should make an appointment every two years to make sure everything is healthy). Here are the simple steps to choose your own reading glasses.

1. Go to a store that sells reading glasses. You can usually find them at a pharmacy or a mass-market store. Even optical stores sell basic reading glasses.

2. Locate the reading glasses kiosk. Once you are there you will see a large display of glasses with different powers on them. The glasses are measured in 0.25 increments (e.g. +1.00, +1.25, +1.50, etc.).

3. Find the reading chart. Almost every kiosk will have a reading chart displayed that you can use to make sure you are getting the right glasses for you.

4. Stand 14 inches away from the chart. You need to stand exactly this far away to get an accurate measurement. You may want to bring a tape measure with you just to ensure you get the right strength of glasses.

5. Read the chart without help. Without any glasses on, you want to see what lines of text are naturally clear to you. Start with the smallest line and go from there. Once you get to a line that is blurry, the power next to that line is your starting point.

6. Try reading the chart with the glasses. Find the recommended strength of glasses and put them on while you read the chart again. Now the line that was blurry before should be clear. At this point, you should not be worrying about style. You are just trying to find the correct strength.

7. Try a power higher and lower than the first one. This is just to make sure that you are getting the most accurate strength for your eyes without getting one that is too strong. If two strengths seem to produce the same level of clarity, you should opt for the lower one. You do not want to use one that is too strong or you may get headaches.

8. Find a style you like. Now that you have figured out the correct strength of reading glasses, you will want to find one that looks good on you. Even though you are only using them for reading, you still want to be confident in them. There are many different styles available, so you are sure to find one that you like.

9. Read clearly. That is all there is to it. Now you can read without strain.