Non Prescription
Reading Glasses
Do they have a place?

What about off-the-rack non prescription reading glasses? Will they hurt my eyes?

Ready-made reading glasses are one-size-fits-all. They have the same power in each eye. Most commonly, we do not have the same prescription in both eyes for best clarity. This is a compromise.

They assume a set distance between the eyes. If your eyes are closer together, or further apart than the assumed distance then they can cause eyestrain, especially with prolonged use.

The materials are cheaper and therefore do not give the same optical clarity as lenses which have to pass stringent quality tests. The lenses can have poor aberrations and distortion.

So, are they all bad?

No - ready-made readers do have a place. They are great for a back up when travelling, or kept in the glove box of the car. They are great in the garage or hobby workshop where a good pair may get ruined by grease and dirt. They are better economically if you lose your glasses every second week!

They are cheap and cheerful for what they can do. But they are best used only for very short periods to avoid eyestrain and headaches.

For prolonged reading or computer work, use your custom-made glasses for maximum comfort and clarity!