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Do Over-the-Counter Reading Glasses Work?

At Readerwear, we don't sell your typical pharmacy reading glasses, but you don't need a prescription to buy them either. One of the most common questions that people ask about buying reading glasses is whether or not these glasses work and second to that, if they're safe.
 

Over-the-counter reading glasses really aren't any different from prescription reading glasses, and the only major difference is an obvious one; they aren't customized to the wearer's eyes. It's recommended that anyone shopping for reading glasses see an optometrist first in order to have their eye health assessed and their specific vision needs considered. When visiting an eye doctor, they may even provide a patient with the specific strength of over-the-counter reading glass lenses that they need to shop for.
 

Since the glasses aren't customized, there are really only a few circumstances where these glasses may not work optimally, and they are never harmful to your eyes. So, instead of focusing upon the similarities between over-the-counter and prescription reading glasses, we'll share with you a few circumstances where you might need to put a bit more thought into your eyewear selections.
 

1. If you have eyes that do not have the same prescription requirements - generally, when vision declines due to age, it happens in a very similar manner in both eyes. However, there can be circumstances where each eye needs a very different prescription. OTC reading glasses may not be enough to greatly improve vision. But, for most people the difference between each eye wouldn't be enough to make the use of over-the-counter reading glasses inadequate.
 

2. You purchased OTC reading glasses on a whim, and find you're getting headaches - in this circumstance you likely don't have the right strength for your needs in your glasses. Likely, this is because you skipped your visit to the eye doctor, so before trying new glasses, simply book your visit so you know you're getting what works best.
 

3. You have an astigmatism - in some cases, OTC reading glasses might not be enough for the needs of those with an astigmatism. Again, a simple visit to the eye doctor will clear up what strength to get, and if over-the-counter readers or a prescription will be required.
 

It's tempting to go online and simply purchase the first pair of glasses that you like in terms of their style, but you've got to make sure that you visit an eye specialist first, not only to help out with your reading glasses choice, but also to ensure your eyes are healthy overall!
 

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