How do I know what strength reading glasses to get?

To determine the correct strength of reading glasses, you’ll need to know your reading prescription or near-vision correction. Here’s a simple guide on how to figure it out:

1. Get Your Prescription

The most accurate way to determine the strength of reading glasses is by having an eye exam with an optometrist or ophthalmologist. They can provide you with a prescription that includes the necessary magnification strength for reading or close-up work.

Your prescription for reading glasses usually includes the following:

• SPH (Sphere): This tells you the strength of the lens for nearsightedness (negative values) or farsightedness (positive values).
• ADD (Addition): This is the extra magnification needed for close-up vision, typically added to the distance prescription for reading glasses.

If you don’t have a prescription or haven’t had an eye exam in a while, you can perform a simple test at home to estimate the strength you might need.

2. Home Test to Estimate Reading Glasses Strength

Here’s how you can roughly estimate your reading glasses strength at home:

• Step 1: Find a book or newspaper and hold it at a comfortable reading distance (about 14-16 inches).
• Step 2: Try reading the text without glasses. If it’s blurry or hard to focus, this indicates that you might need reading glasses.
• Step 3: Use a pair of over-the-counter reading glasses or try a magnification tool to see if your vision improves. Start with lower magnification (e.g., +1.00, +1.25) and increase the strength gradually until you can read comfortably.

3. General Strength Guide

Reading glasses typically come in the following strengths:

• +1.00 to +1.50: For people around 40-45 years old who begin to experience slight difficulty reading small print up close.
• +1.75 to +2.00: For people in their mid-40s to early 50s with more noticeable difficulty focusing on near objects.
• +2.50 to +3.00: For those in their late 50s to 60s, who need stronger magnification for reading.

4. Consider Your Needs

• Occasional Reading: If you only need reading glasses for short periods, a lower strength might suffice.
• Extended Reading or Close Work: If you do a lot of close-up work, you might need a stronger prescription.

5. Other Factors

If you have astigmatism or other vision issues, your reading glasses might need additional adjustments to address that. In this case, an optometrist will be able to provide you with the most accurate prescription.

If you're unsure, it’s always a good idea to visit an eye care professional for a more accurate diagnosis.