04-07-2009, 08:35 PM
Aha, you're at that age. It's common for folks to think they can just get drug-store readers, and that's the solution. Or that some over-the-counter readers are better than others. There's not much to 'know' about them, they all use the same material. It's an inferior, temporary solution at best, there are no good ones.
Don't kid yourself, make an appointment to get your eyes checked, and get a prescription for precise lenses!
Look at it this way: your eyes aren't going to improve, it's not a temporary condition. It's a normal decline in short-range vision, and the decline will continue a little for a few years, then stabilize. The condition is permanent. It's treatable with lenses calibrated for your vision. The quality difference matters. A lot.
The over-the-counter ones are like a 50-year-old RCA tube TV with bad reception. Professionally-made reading glasses are like a modern LCD HDTV, by comparison. Are your eyes worth it? Do you ever read anything? A cereal box? A magazine? The label on medicine bottles? Books? On a budget, places like Lenscrafters, etc., are pretty good. Once you get a prescription, and have custom-made lenses, you'll be glad you did.
Then, if you want extra pairs for disposable reasons, sunglasses, etc., those can be handy-but-disposable extra credit. You can also get progressive lenses with clip-on sunglasses, or even prescription sunglasses, if your pocketbook allows.
Don't kid yourself, make an appointment to get your eyes checked, and get a prescription for precise lenses!
Look at it this way: your eyes aren't going to improve, it's not a temporary condition. It's a normal decline in short-range vision, and the decline will continue a little for a few years, then stabilize. The condition is permanent. It's treatable with lenses calibrated for your vision. The quality difference matters. A lot.
The over-the-counter ones are like a 50-year-old RCA tube TV with bad reception. Professionally-made reading glasses are like a modern LCD HDTV, by comparison. Are your eyes worth it? Do you ever read anything? A cereal box? A magazine? The label on medicine bottles? Books? On a budget, places like Lenscrafters, etc., are pretty good. Once you get a prescription, and have custom-made lenses, you'll be glad you did.
Then, if you want extra pairs for disposable reasons, sunglasses, etc., those can be handy-but-disposable extra credit. You can also get progressive lenses with clip-on sunglasses, or even prescription sunglasses, if your pocketbook allows.