1.50 Reading Glasses May Do The Trick
Reading Glasses
Just what do those little numbers on reading glasses mean and how do you know what strength is best for you? They refer to the diopter strength of the lenses or the level of magnification. The human eye has an optical power of about 40 diopters, but that decreases with time. A young person with normal vision can adjust about 20 additional diopters, but by age 50 it diminishes to about 1 diopter. This inability to adjust is known as presbyopia and warrants reading glasses. Very weak reading glasses may be labeled .75 or 1.0, but drug store reading glasses typically start at 1.50 and you may find them at 1.75, 2.0 or 2.5. If that is not working for you, see an optometrist for a custom pair. Each eye may have a different level of presbyopia so an optometrist can adjust for that. For a start 1.50 reading glasses may be just what you need.
If you want to do it yourself, there are diaper tests you can print out on the computer. It is important to follow the directions carefully to see what strength is best for you. Many stores that carry reading glasses also provide eye charts to give you an idea of what you need. You could also take a book that you have difficulty reading and try on glasses until you find one that fits. Some reading glasses manufacturers give you a guideline based on your age. I have found that the 1.25 works well for me, but 1.50 is typical. Everyone’s eyes are different. If you try reading glasses and still have trouble seeing or experience headaches and eyestrain, it’s time for an eye exam. You may need a custom pair of reading glasses. An optometrist can make them in strengths of 3.0 and up. They can also make one lens at 1.25 and one at 1.50 to account for the difference in each eye.
Presbyopia is progressive. As you age you may need a higher magnification and your eyes may need something different first thing in the morning than later in the day. A lot of people have more than one pair of reading glasses in different strengths. While many people self prescribe and do just fine with plain reading glasses, as you get older, you should consider getting an eye exam to rule out other problems especially if your reading glasses are not doing the job for you. After age 50, you may need something stronger than 1.50 reading glasses.
