When do I need reading glasses, and what strength should I have?
When do I know I need reading glasses?
After the age of 40, vision begins to change, and the extent and way it changes from case to case. Symptoms may include:
- It becomes more difficult for the eyes to quickly switch focus from far to near, and from near to far. This is because the lens of the eye becomes stiffer with age.
- Difficulty seeing text up close. Text blurs or becomes difficult to read in low light. If you notice that it has become more difficult to read newspapers, books or text on your mobile screen, and you feel that you have to have a longer distance to the text, then it is likely that you need reading glasses.
- Tired eyes and a dry, scratchy feeling that is often worse in the evening.
What strength should I have on my reading glasses?
Most people who need reading glasses usually need a power between +1.00 and +3.00 diopters. When it comes to common age-related vision changes, we humans are relatively similar. One way to estimate your reading glasses power is to take your age into account, but this can of course vary from person to person. Consider this guide as a rough guideline:
Age 40 years: +1.0
Age 45 years: +1.5
Age 50 years: +2.0
Age 55 years: +2.5
Age 60 years: +3.0
Can you wear reading glasses when you have contact lenses?
Yes, that's perfectly fine. If you use lenses because you are nearsighted and have poor distance vision, you may need reading glasses for short distances, for example when you are reading or sitting at the computer.