As you age, it’s normal to experience a gradual decline in the quality of your near vision. When temporary fixes like squinting or holding objects further from your eyes stop working, you may find that it’s time to get reading glasses.
Reading glasses are prescription or non-prescription eyewear that are designed to enhance near vision by magnifying objects, making them easier to see. Keep reading to learn more about why some people need reading glasses.
Who Needs Reading Glasses?
Reading glasses are typically worn by individuals who have started to develop presbyopia (age-related farsightedness), individuals with a mild degree of the refractive error hyperopia (farsightedness), and individuals whose eyesight has been affected by another eye condition, such as cataracts.
While prescription reading glasses are available, non-prescription glasses are widely available in a range of strengths from many retailers. Often, they come in multipacks, allowing wearers the convenience of having a pair of glasses wherever they might need them or a backup if they lose a pair.
What is Presbyopia?
The most common reason for needing reading glasses is the onset of presbyopia. Presbyopia is an age-related eye condition primarily caused by the hardening of the lens of the eye and the weakening of the ciliary muscles, which surround the lens and help it change shape.
Presbyopia typically becomes noticeable in your early to mid-40s and continues to worsen until around age 65. Some of the signs and symptoms of presbyopia include:
- Blurred vision at normal reading distance
- Eyestrain or headaches after reading or doing close-up work
- Needing to increase the size of text on your electronic devices
- Holding reading materials farther away to make the letters clearer
Almost everyone will develop some degree of presbyopia as they age. The American Optometric Association estimates that presbyopia impacts the vision of at least 90% of American adults over the age of 45.
Who Else Might Need Reading Glasses?
While most individuals need reading glasses because of presbyopia, there are other reasons you might need to wear them:
Hyperopia
Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, is a refractive error in which light entering the eye focuses behind the retina instead of directly on it.
Generally, only mild degrees of hyperopia can be corrected with the use of reading glasses.
Eye Conditions
In the early stages of some eye conditions, such as cataracts and glaucoma, reading glasses can help compensate for vision impairment. It is usually a temporary fix, and reading glasses often become ineffective as these conditions progress.
While there is no known cure for some eye conditions, cataracts can be successfully treated with cataract surgery. During this surgery, the lens of the eye clouded by cataracts is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL), some of which can correct presbyopia.
What are the Treatment Options for Presbyopia?
If your vision has been affected by presbyopia, here are several of the treatment options available beyond reading glasses:
Bifocals, Trifocals, and Progressive Lenses
If you already wear eyeglasses, there are bifocal, trifocal, and progressive lenses that can provide clear vision at multiple distances and eliminate the need for multiple pairs of glasses.
Monovision Contact Lenses
With monovision contact lenses, one eye is corrected for near vision and the other for distance.
Refractive Lens Exchange
Refractive lens exchange (RLE) is a laser vision correction procedure in which the natural lens of the eye is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). RLE is similar to cataract surgery, but the procedure is typically performed on younger individuals without cataracts who want to achieve long-lasting, clear vision.
RLE is one of the only laser vision correction procedures that can address presbyopia. Advanced lifestyle IOLs offered at The Eye Center can improve vision at multiple distances, providing clarity for reading and close-up tasks.
Will I Need Reading Glasses After RLE?
Most individuals who correct their vision with RLE won’t need reading glasses after the procedure, but it largely depends on your choice of IOL. Advanced lifestyle lenses can correct vision at multiple distances, potentially eliminating the need for corrective eyewear altogether.
An additional benefit of RLE is that it prevents the possibility of developing cataracts in the future. This is because the proteins and fibers that cause cataracts can’t clump on the surface of an artificial IOL.
By replacing the natural lens of the eye, RLE can provide reliably clear vision. It can eliminate your need for reading glasses or other corrective eyewear and prevent cataracts from impairing your vision as you age.
Explore Your Options at The Eye Center
The transition to reading glasses often signals broader changes in eye health and visual function. While reading glasses provide an immediate solution, they address symptoms rather than underlying causes.
The Eye Center recommends comprehensive eye examinations for anyone experiencing near vision changes. These evaluations assess overall eye health, identify potential conditions requiring treatment, and determine candidacy for advanced presbyopia solutions.
Schedule your comprehensive eye exam at The Eye Center in Greenfield or Athol, MA, today!