How to Select Reading Glasses

The days of going to the eye doctor and paying big money to get a pair of "readers" is over, thanks to the availability of reading glasses in most department, office supply and drugstores.

Instructions

• 1

  Shop for reading glasses when you are well-rested. Tired eyes have to work harder and could skew the magnifying power of reading glasses. You don't really need another person to help you decide which frames look best, because you won't be wearing your readers all the time. The mirror provided on the rack should help you determine the right shape and frame.

• 2

  Stand with your face approximately 2 feet from written words. There may be an eye chart to guide you, or you can pick up a magazine or anything that has written words. Weak reading glasses are indicated by a 1.0 or 1.25, medium glasses are 1.5 to 2.5, and strong glasses are 2.75 and above. Choose the lens that makes the writing the clearest at the distance you would normally read from.

• 3

  Choose glasses that fit your face properly. They should feel comfortable on your nose, you should be able to look down to the floor without them sliding off your face, and the frame should feel firm in your hands. Reading glasses will actually get harder use than glasses that are worn all the time, because they are taken off and put on frequently.