Non Prescription Reading Glasses

Non prescription reading glasses are a great way to try out different frames and different tints while you find the vision correction that is just right for reading and paperwork.

Non prescription reading glasses are also a budget-friendly way to accumulate enough pairs of reading glasses, that you can stash them everywhere you might need reading glasses, in various rooms of your house, in your car, in your boat, in your briefcase or your purse, at the office, and so on.

Numerous options at low cost. In terms of design, non prescription reading glasses offer you every option available for prescription reading glasses and probably more.

Because these literally "off the rack" eyeglasses are very inexpensive, you can find designer frames and a variety of lens tints that may not be available from your optician.

You can get frames that fold so that storing your glasses takes about the same space as storing a credit card, and you can get reading glasses with half-lenses (Ben Franklin lenses), full lenses, large lenses, small lenses, and lenses with anti-glare (AR) and ultraviolet (UV) protection. There are a few things, however, that non-prescription reading glasses cannot do for you.

But not good for computer use. First, it's important to realize that reading glasses generally are not useful as computer glasses. Reading glasses are designed to correct vision for clear focus on near objects, that is objects that are less than 18 inches (45 cm) from the front of the face.

A computer screen is typically about 25 inches (60-65 cm) away from the user. This means that reading glasses generally result in blurry vision when used for computer work.

The blurry vision can cause eyestrain and headaches, and, if you try to compensate for inadequate vision correction by moving your head and torso forward, you can get neck aches and backaches and even aggravate carpal tunnel syndrome.

No correction for astigmatism. Another issue with non-prescription glasses for reading is that they do not correct for astigmatism. Nearly everyone has a small degree of astigmatism, and prescription lenses can correct for it giving you clearer, sharper vision.

Because astigmatism is a highly individual eye issue, non-prescription lenses are not made for it. Wearing glasses that do not correct for astigmatism can also cause eyestrain, headaches, and upper body pain.

Saving sight still requires regular eye exams. The most serious issue with non-prescription glasses, however, has to do with the reason most people by them.

Even if you can get good vision correction with inexpensive, over-the-counter reading glasses, you still need regular eye exams with an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Chronic glaucoma, for example, causes no symptoms at first, and it is possible to lose a great deal of your vision before you have any idea you have a problem. Only an eye exam with an eye care professional can catch glaucoma in its early stages.

Similarly, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration often rob sight of people over 60, but the earliest signs of these eye diseases can be detected in the doctor's office beginning about age 40.

The extra money and time required for a visit to the eye doctor is not always necessary to get good reading glasses, but it may be necessary to save your sight.

Don't buy non-prescription reading glasses just because you don't want to bother with an eye exam. Buy non-prescription reading glasses for their convenience, their style, and the fun you can have with different frames that will set you back as little as $10.

But for your ongoing eye health and the protection of your vision for the rest of your life, see your optometrist or ophthalmologist at least every two years.

Return From Non Prescription Reading Glasses to Reading Glasses

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