Getting older means adjusting to some hard truths. Some things that you may need to keep in mind as you age include the value of building strong relationships with family and friends, as well as the necessity of prioritizing health and self-care. And one of the most important markers of your health as you age? Your eyesight.
Given that over two billion people globally have some degree of vision impairment, it’s no wonder that the use of assistive eyewear is becoming more common. Worldwide, reports estimate that the majority of individuals possess around 1.25 pieces of eyewear, on average. In line with these statistics, the international eyewear market is expected to register a compound annual growth rate of 6.7% until 2032.
Among the most common types of eyewear available today are reading glasses. Also called readers, these are not to be confused with prescription glasses. Although they overlap in some aspects, readers provide unique benefits that may actually be more helpful for older adults. But how do reading glasses work, and how do you know you need them? Read on to find out.
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What are reading glasses?
As their name implies, these glasses are primarily focused on magnifying vision for fine work, like reading. On retailer Readers, you can see that reading glasses are categorized primarily by power. These range from 1.00 to +3.75, including quarter and half powers, and will dictate the intensity of the magnification. Aside from this, readers also come with a variety of specialized lenses. These include bifocals, full magnifications, blue light blockers, and even sunglasses. Bifocal glasses are glasses that feature two different optical powers, with the top part of the lens correcting distance vision and the bottom part correcting near vision. Reading glasses with blue light filters, meanwhile, allow you to read on your devices comfortably without worrying about the downsides of blue light. Given the range of customization available for reading glasses, users are able to enjoy more comfortable vision-heavy tasks no matter their activity, surroundings, and lifestyle.
Interestingly, the positive impact of reading glasses has been shown to extend beyond just physical and visual comfort. Per the World Health Forum, one tangible advantage that readers offer is better economic stability. Better vision is known to improve productivity, workplace safety, and even project outcomes. Consequently, vision health-focused groups, like VisionSpring, have even been known to offer their own line of reading glasses to impoverished communities.
When you may need reading glasses
Blurry distance vision
The most obvious sign that you may need readers is blurred vision, particularly if you’re struggling to see things up close. When this happens, it’s often a sign that your eyes are having a hard time clearly processing near-distance images. This is most common in older adults, considering that presbyopia is an age-related condition that usually occurs in those over the age of 40. People with presbyopia often find it easier to see farther objects since the clear lens in the eye becomes more rigid and, therefore, allows less light to pass through. Generally, this can be managed with reading glasses.
Detail work causes eye pain
While any prolonged vision-heavy activity can cause ocular discomfort, it’s very telling if detail work, in particular, triggers this. For the majority of people, eye pain during activities that require closer focus and detail is a sign that the organs are overcompensating for the task. Consequently, this can lead to eye exhaustion, which can manifest as dryness, redness, and stinging. In many cases, the eye muscles can feel pain due to involuntary squinting as the eyes work overtime to focus on fine details. Since reading glasses effectively take on the burden of seeing things up close, the eyes are then much more relaxed and protected from fatigue.
Frequent reading-induced headaches
Headaches are normal among those with eye problems and often follow significant bouts of ocular strain. While vision-related headaches can be triggered by a number of different activities, reading is one of the most common. This is because printed text requires the eyes to adjust and focus. Should this often happen to you, reading glasses with the right magnification can help relieve and prevent these tension headaches by treating the root ocular cause.
As you age, you may be surprised by changes in your health and vision. This guide to reading glasses can ensure that you’re well-prepared for any eye issues in the future. For more articles on wellness, self-improvement, and other life advice, visit our other posts on Paminy.