Using reading glasses

[CeruleanMoon]

Some signs of aging are creeping up on me, because it's become apparent that I need reading glasses. Things close up are starting to appear blurry.

So I bought reading glasses. I got the lowest magnification the store had, which was 1.25.

Eureka! I can read pill bottles again. However, I'm having trouble working with the glasses in a practical way. I only need them for very close up reading. If I look up and away at anything farther than a foot and half from my face, it's blurry as heck, so I need to take them off immediately after using them. However, sometimes I'm doing things that involve looking up and down, such as at my job where I'm a librarian, and that involves examining items closely (glasses needed) and then looking up to catalog things on a computer (glasses not needed.) I can't keep taking them on and off every few seconds! I tried keeping them on the end of my nose, which sort of works, but the dramatic difference between the view through the glasses and the view without it makes me a little dizzy and sometimes even a little queasy!

Arg! How do people use these things?? Do I need an even lower magnification?

 

[powellrj]

I just keep them on top of my head all the time. I am sure they look stupid, but they are always close. I get mine from Dollar Tree. They work as well as the good ones and my eye doctor has no problem with them.

 

[Owlpost23]

Stick them by the bow down the front of your shirt.They'll be handy,but out of the way.It can take some time to get used to them,but seeing again is a marvel,isn't it?

 

[Southernmiss]

Yep. I need glasses for distance. Up close, I take my glasses off. Work in an office. Glasses are on and off all day.

I'm guessing when I need bifocals it might be easier

And I almost look forward to the day (like our parents) when cataract surgery corrects my vision, too!

 

[Disneylover99]

On my head

 

[Christine]

Make sure you buy the readers that are like "half" of a lens so that you can easily look over top of them. That's how I had to start.

Also, I think Target sells a reader that is a bifocal so it's clear on the top and a reader at the bottom. But seriously, your best bet is to just get the half lens I think it's called.

 

[Imzadi]

I can't keep taking them on and off every few seconds! I tried keeping them on the end of my nose, which sort of works, but the dramatic difference between the view through the glasses and the view without it makes me a little dizzy and sometimes even a little queasy!

Arg! How do people use these things?? Do I need an even lower magnification?

You might need to get bifocals, if you have to look up and down so much. However, you will still get dizzy with the adjustment of looking up & down until your eyes get used to it. A lower magnification isn't going to change things, and it might not be the right prescription now, if you didn't really check the different magnification levels in the store for the right one. Did you buy the smallest size lenses to perch on your nose?

There are also "computer glasses" in which distance to read things is about another 10-ish inches away, about the distance a computer screen would be, instead of where a book would be for reading. They may be more appropriate than "reading" glasses.

I had ordered a pair of "computer glasses" online years ago with the same prescription I used for reading glasses that I got from the drugstore. They are perfect for my needs. But, as the lenses got scuffed up over the years, I needed a new pair. I just happened to find a perfect pair at the Tuesday Morning store about a month ago. It wasn't advertised as "computer glasses," but I noticed when I looked up and could still read a further distance away that they are perfect a "computer glasses." They were $5. In hindsight, I should have gotten a second pair.

I also bought, from the dollar store, a pair of reading glasses that are much higher magnification than I actually need. I'm usually a +2.00. This pair is+3.75 and they are perfect for pulling out a finger sliver or reading the smallest type possible on a package. I don't use them often, but they come in so handy, for just a buck, and I can wear them instead of holding a magnifying glass.

 

[CeruleanMoon]

Sounds like I may just have to get used to perching them on my nose and looking up and down. I only had them on my nose today for a few minutes though before I started feeling mildly nauseous. I think it was because I kept forgetting and looking through the glasses at the computer by mistake, and the computer is so blurry through the glasses, that it turns my stomach.

Make sure you buy the readers that are like "half" of a lens so that you can easily look over top of them. That's how I had to start.

Also, I think Target sells a reader that is a bifocal so it's clear on the top and a reader at the bottom. But seriously, your best bet is to just get the half lens I think it's called.

I may look into this, thanks! It may be exactly what I need. I'm going to look like Ben Franklin though...

You might need to get bifocals, if you have to look up and down so much. However, you will still get dizzy with the adjustment of looking up & down until your eyes get used to it. A lower magnification isn't going to change things, and it might not be the right prescription now, if you didn't really check the different magnification levels in the store for the right one. Did you buy the smallest size lenses to perch on your nose?

There are also "computer glasses" in which distance to read things is about another 10-ish inches away, about the distance a computer screen would be, instead of where a book would be for reading. They may be more appropriate than "reading" glasses.

I had ordered a pair of "computer glasses" online years ago with the same prescription I used for reading glasses that I got from the drugstore. They are perfect for my needs. But, as the lenses got scuffed up over the years, I needed a new pair. I just happened to find a perfect pair at the Tuesday Morning store about a month ago. It wasn't advertised as "computer glasses," but I noticed when I looked up and could still read a further distance away that they are perfect a "computer glasses." They were $5. In hindsight, I should have gotten a second pair.

I also bought, from the dollar store, a pair of reading glasses that are much higher magnification than I actually need. I'm usually a +2.00. This pair is+3.75 and they are perfect for pulling out a finger sliver or reading the smallest type possible on a package. I don't use them often, but they come in so handy, for just a buck, and I can wear them instead of holding a magnifying glass.

I did try to figure out what magnification I was supposed to be, but I had trouble figuring it out. It said to pick the line that was clearest, but I could read all of them! I probably need a 1.0 or less, but the store didn't sell that so I couldn't test it out. I know you can buy glasses even lower than 1.0 online though, so I may have to check there.

I did buy the smallest lenses they had, since my head is small and big glasses make me look like a fly.

I can see the computer fine without glasses, so I don't think any computer glasses are going to work for me. It's only things maybe half that distance away or closer that are blurry now.

 

[WorldWalker18]

Welcome to the club. If you’re like me, you’ll have “cheaters” stashed in every room, car and desk drawer soon.

 

[Imzadi]

I did try to figure out what magnification I was supposed to be, but I had trouble figuring it out. It said to pick the line that was clearest, but I could read all of them! I probably need a 1.0 or less, but the store didn't sell that so I couldn't test it out. I know you can buy glasses even lower than 1.0 online though, so I may have to check there.

Yeah, that didn't work for me the first time I was picking out readers. What I did was walk around the store and pick up bottles & packages that had the small type that I couldn't read. Then when I had a consensus of which which reader could read the type I most often need glasses for, that became my prescription.

Try leaving them on for a time. Like read a book or a magazine for a while, until your eyes get used to the readers. It's the back & forth that is making your nauseous. Once your eyes adjust to the readers, it will automatically know to switch back & forth. Right now, it's trying to look through the readers with your normal distance vision.

Another tip, since reading glasses are so cheap at the dollar store, I bought several pairs. I have them stashed all over the place. I have one in the bathroom for reading small labels. (The super-magnification glasses goes there.) One in the kitchen cupboard for reading ingredients & cooking directions. One at my craft table. My computer glasses by my computer. Another one in my handbag for when I need to fill out forms when I'm out and about. I don't like hooking the glasses to the front of my shirt or placing them on my head. So, having several all over the place has really solved that.

 

[Imzadi]

Welcome to the club. If you’re like me, you’ll have “cheaters” stashed in every room, car and desk drawer soon.

I was typing as you posted.

 

[WorldWalker18]

I was typing as you posted.

Universal life experience.

 

[disykat]

Like others here, I have them stashed all over the house. Costco sells good ones in 3 packs. I can't use the ones from Walmart or the dollar store, they hurt my eyes.

I resorted to an old lady chain for work since I have to take them on and off constantly and I bend over a lot so keeping them on my head doesn't work. I bought one on line that has beads in my favorite colors, superglued in onto my favorite pair of the glasses so it would stay, and wear it proudly!

 

[CeruleanMoon]

Yeah, that didn't work for me the first time I was picking out readers. What I did was walk around the store and pick up bottles & packages that had the small type that I couldn't read. Then when I had a consensus of which which reader could read the type I most often need glasses for, that became my prescription.

Try leaving them on for a time. Like read a book or a magazine for a while, until your eyes get used to the readers. It's the back & forth that is making your nauseous. Once your eyes adjust to the readers, it will automatically know to switch back & forth. Right now, it's trying to look through the readers with your normal distance vision.

Another tip, since reading glasses are so cheap at the dollar store, I bought several pairs. I have them stashed all over the place. I have one in the bathroom for reading small labels. (The super-magnification glasses goes there.) One in the kitchen cupboard for reading ingredients & cooking directions. One at my craft table. My computer glasses by my computer. Another one in my handbag for when I need to fill out forms when I'm out and about. I don't like hooking the glasses to the front of my shirt or placing them on my head. So, having several all over the place has really solved that.

I did that too...put on the glasses and then tested out reading tiny item labels nearby in the store. The glasses are already useful for kitchen recipes and package ingredients and I do love being able to read the backs of my credit cards again!

I discovered that Amazon sells the bifocal readers, bottom with magnification and tops just glass. I think I'm going to go ahead and buy some to use at work.

 

[CeruleanMoon]

Thanks so much guys! I just bought bifocals on Amazon. I can't wait until they arrive so I can test them out at work!

 

[Cubbiecakes]

I always wear contacts, but I generally don't need my cheaters as long as the room is bright. If it's not, it's really hard to read small text.

I always wear my cheaters when I'm cross-stitching, or those little tiny threads and little tiny holes would drive me to drink.

 

[Christine]

Just another plug for Costco's readers. Usually $18.99 for a 3-pack and they hold up REALLY well and have a good quality lens. You just can't test them out in the store.

 

[scrhsa]

Welcome to the club. If you’re like me, you’ll have “cheaters” stashed in every room, car and desk drawer soon.

I just bought about 10 from Dollar Tree the other day and proceeded to put some in m car, my purse, my bedroom, in drawer etc, etc I still feel like going back and getting more

 

[Klayfish]

I absolutely hate glasses. I've held out an awful long time. But now in my mid-40s, I'm the same as OP. I can see fine if it's over 12" from my face, but anything close up is literally impossible. I bought reading glasses from the dollar store and they work great. But I only use them when reading at bedtime. If I get to the point where I need more, I'm getting contacts or looking into Lasik. I just refuse to wear glasses all the time, just not my thing.

 

[Christine]

I absolutely hate glasses. I've held out an awful long time. But now in my mid-40s, I'm the same as OP. I can see fine if it's over 12" from my face, but anything close up is literally impossible. I bought reading glasses from the dollar store and they work great. But I only use them when reading at bedtime. If I get to the point where I need more, I'm getting contacts or looking into Lasik. I just refuse to wear glasses all the time, just not my thing.

Unfortunately, Lasik will not correct the "over 40 getting old" reading problem. This is caused by aging of your lens. It's getting more rigid and is not focusing as well as it used to, close up.

Once your "reading" prescription stabilizes and you are good with contacts, they are definitely a better solution. Both my reading and distance vision have been impacted. I've tried to do multi-focal contact lenses and when I can be comfortable in them it is SO liberating. But, I have dry eye and sensitive eyelid skin so I can't really use them all the time as I would like.