Making a List, and Checking it Twice

Reading the List, That’s What Really Matters

Whether you’re going old school this holiday season, writing your holiday gift list on a papyrus scroll, or dictating a list to your phone as we imagine any modern-day Santa is doing, the real trick is being able to read the list after you’ve written it down!

At some point in all of our lives, we’ll notice a little creakiness in our joints, and a little trouble reading. When we reach our 40s, even those of us that have had great eyesight all our lives, start to notice a little difficulty focusing our eyes on small print and in low light.

At this age, the internal lenses in our eyes naturally become less flexible than they were when we were younger. Less flexible lenses mean your eyes won’t focus as easily under certain conditions. Medically we call this presbyopia: the gradual, age-related loss of the eye's ability to focus actively on close objects.

Sound familiar? Maybe it’s time to put reading glasses on the gift list.

When do you need reading glasses?

The need for reading glasses comes on fairly gradually. Most people will tend to notice that fine print in books or other reading materials is more blurry than it used to be when holding them at a normal distance.

Are you finding you have to hold a book or tablet farther away to read it?
Are you adjusting your tablet’s font size to the highest setting?
Have you noticed you’re having trouble seeing smaller prints in dim light?
Do your eyes hurt when you try to read, sew, or do other fine work close up?
Do you get a headache when you try to read?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it’s probably an indication that it’s time to consider a pair of reading glasses.

What do the different strengths mean?

If you start looking for a cheap pair of “readers” at the pharmacy, you’ll notice a plus sign followed by a number on them. The number represents the reading glass power measured in units called diopters. The lowest strength is usually +1.00 diopters, and they go up in strength by factors of .25 (1.50, 1.75, 2.00); the strongest being +4.00.

These run-of-the-mill readers are designed for universal use by most people. You can test out a few different powers and see which works best when holding a book 14-16 inches away from your face. You’ll want to choose the lowest strength necessary for you to see clearly.

ATTENTION: Ready-To-Wear Non-Prescription Reading Glasses are Not Intended to Replace Those Prescribed by an Eye Doctor

The team here at Berlin Optical Expressions works hard to treat every person’s vision individually and to curate a selection of prescription and non-prescription reading glasses that are far superior to anything you’ll find on a revolving display at the pharmacy.

Ready-to-wear readers do not correct for astigmatisms (a common condition that can cause blurred vision), nor can they be adjusted if you require a different strength of glass for each eye. While the ready-to-wear option is a good one in a pinch and can help a lot of people, nothing can replace the advice of your eye doctor and the value you get in quality frames and lenses.

Naughty or Nice?

I guarantee that Santa Claus keeps an extra pair of reading glasses in his workshop, and another in his sleigh! For whatever reason, reading glasses tend to disappear quicker than woodsmoke coming out of the chimney. This season, why not put two or three pairs of quality reading glasses on the list.

Before you head out for a cheap pair of readers, come on down to Berlin Optical Expressions and we’ll help you determine the best solution for your individual vision concerns. Then we can set you up with 2 or 3 pairs of high-quality reading glasses; one for every room in the house!

You’ve been nice this year, you deserve it!