FAQ: How do I shop for reading glasses?

So you think you might need Reading Glasses?

Here are some things to consider:

(1) The health of your eyes.

Readers at Art and Science of Eyewear - Walnut Creek & Lafayette, CAIn your forties, the world up close becomes a blurry mess. Vision threatening diseases might begin to develop. Early detection prevents vision loss. If your eyes feel fatigued when using over-the-counter readers, consider custom made prescription readers instead. (But first — see your eye doctor!)

(2) The Diopter Strength of the Readers – Why we sometimes need 2 different magnifications!

Magnification is measured in diopters, beginning at +.75 and increasing in +.25 increments. Find a power that gives you the widest range of reading. As we age, we may require two separate pairs: a stronger power for up close reading and a weaker power for the arms length viewing of our computer monitors.

(3) Quality of the Readers.

When you are ready to invest in high quality reading glasses, you can expect to pay in the range of $50 – $100. Unlike the dime store version, these higher quality Readers provide good quality optics, fee of distortion. The frames feel solid and can be adjusted for a great fit. In our optical, our most popular Readers sells for under $80.

Here’s what I know: When you love your Readers the way our customers love theirs, you’ll keep better track of it so the usual loss rates of the cheaper versions is better.