What Strength Reading Glasses Do I Need?

If you notice that up-close reading is becoming more challenging for you, it might be time to try a pair of reading glasses. Readers can mean the difference between having a tension headache at the end of the day or feeling fresh and fit. Reading glasses can also help with conditions like presbyopia or age-related farsightedness. Besides these common reasons, there are many uses for magnification while you read. In this guide, we’ll help you discover if reading glasses are right for you. Find out more about choosing a reading glasses strength and how to pick out the perfect stylish frames for your lenses.

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How Do I Know If I Need Reading Glasses?

Reading eyeglasses have different strengths and magnification, but they are still non-prescription lenses. If you need readers, you don’t need to see an optometrist to start wearing them.. You should still get regular eye exams from your eye doctor to make sure your vision is healthy. Checkups can also review conditions like presbyopia or astigmatism. You find yourself squinting when you read

Besides an eye exam, there are a few signs you may notice on your own that indicate you need magnification for reading:

You find yourself squinting when you read books or use your smartphone.
Words are starting to look blurry while you read close-up.
You hold menus or letters farther away from your face when you read them.
You have a headache or eye strain after spending hours on a computer screen.

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What Do the Strengths Mean?

Now that you know who may need reading glasses, it’s time to understand reading glasses strength. Reading glasses are measured in diopters. The magnification of reading glasses ranges in strength from 1-3 diopters, increasing by 0.25 increments. Sometimes you’ll find reading glasses higher than 3 diopters in strength.

The higher the number in diopters, the higher the strength. So, +1.25 reading glasses would be less strong than +1.50 reading glasses, which would be less strong than +1.75 reading glasses.

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How Do You Know What Strength Reading Glasses to Get?

Even if you’re new to diopters and different reading glasses strengths, it’s not as complicated as it sounds to find the right pair. If you’ve had reading glasses in the past and they’re not working as well as they used to, you can pretty safely increase their magnification to improve their functionality. However, if you’ve never had readers before, you may have no idea where to start.

Thankfully, there are a few different ways to estimate which magnification you need for reading glasses. Read through each of them to discover which one is right for you.

Estimating Reading Glasses Strength by Printable Test

Printable diopter test pages and cards are available on the Peepers website. Use these tools at home to determine the right reading glasses strength for your needs.

The most important thing to know when using printable tests at home is to follow all instructions precisely. If you print on the wrong size paper or use the wrong dimensions, your results could be inaccurate. It’s also critical that you use a good printer with enough ink, as faded ink or smudged print could alter your results.

Estimating Reading Glasses Strength by Trying Some On

One of the most common ways to figure out the right strength of reading glasses is to try on a couple of different pairs that you find stylish and attractive for your face shape. This approach will help you see which strengths in diopters work best. As you try them on, always go with the lowest rating in diopters that allows you to read comfortably. This way, you can scale up if your eyes continue to worsen with age.

If you’re looking for the perfect frames, you can find a list of Peepers retailer locations here to go and try them on in person. When you shop with us, you’ll find stylish reading glasses for every face shape. From oversized soft square readers to flattering cat-eye reading glasses, you’ll find readers to help with magnification and elevate your outfits.

Having Your Eye Care Provider Test Your Vision

Annual eye exams by an optometrist are recommended to monitor your overall eye health. Your eye doctor will check for common eye diseases and ailments, all while reevaluating your vision with an eye chart to ensure you are using the correct prescription. As you age, they’ll also look for common eye changes like presbyopia. While you can estimate your strength with a fair amount of accuracy by using the printable test or trying on glasses, your safest bet is to have an eye doctor administer a vision test and provide you with the exact numbers.

There are many reasons to get a second opinion from an optometrist. Some people require a different prescription for each eye. Using the wrong strength, whether it’s too high or too low, can strain your eyes and cause your vision to decline faster. If you have any doubts about your reading glasses strength, talk to your regular eye care professional and schedule an appointment.

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Stylish Reading Glasses You’ll Love

At Peepers, we’re proud to offer an array of stylish reading eyeglasses in all different strengths and styles, starting from +1.00 and going in increments as high as +4.00. While you’ll love reading with new and improved magnification, you’ll also benefit from our lenses with features like UV protection and blue light blocking. There’s a perfect pair for everyone. Whether you enjoy some of Oprah’s favs or you prefer to shop by shape or color, we’re confident that we have readers you’ll love to show off!