You want to quietly read the newspaper with a cup of coffee, but the letters are too blurry up close, so you end up holding it uncomfortably far away. Arms stretched, eyes squinting. Familiar situation? Your near vision has likely deteriorated. Words blur when you try to read up close—maybe it’s time for reading glasses. At Glazoo, we like to bring things into focus.

Some signals

From around the age of 40, many of us start noticing that reading becomes more difficult. The following signs may mean your time for reading glasses has come:

  • You need to hold books, magazines, or your phone farther away to read clearly.
  • The comfortable reading distance keeps getting bigger.
  • Your arms feel “too short” to hold things far enough.
  • Dim lighting makes reading noticeably harder—bedtime reading with a small nightlight becomes a struggle.
  • You experience headaches or burning eyes after reading.

Noticing these occasionally doesn’t mean you need glasses immediately, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.

What is long-sightedness?

When your eyes are at rest, they naturally focus on distant objects. This relaxed state is perfect for far vision. To see something up close, your eyes must adjust—a process called accommodation.

As we age, the lens of the eye loses elasticity, making it harder to focus on nearby objects. This condition is called presbyopia, also known as age-related long-sightedness. Most people comfortably read at around 30 cm. If you have to hold things farther than that, it’s long-sightedness. It’s completely normal, affects both men and women, and the age it starts varies from person to person.

Opt for reading glasses or multifocal glasses?

If reading glasses become necessary, you have a couple of choices. First, ask yourself: do you already need glasses for distance vision?

  • If yes – you’ll need lenses that correct both near and far vision. Options include:
    1. Two separate glasses – one for distance, one for reading.
      • Advantage: wide, clear field of view for each task.
      • Disadvantage: constant switching between pairs.
    2. Multifocal glasses – one pair with different zones for near, intermediate, and far vision.
      • Advantage: no need to switch glasses.
      • Disadvantage: slight distortion at the edges of the lenses.

Glazoo's advice

Don’t wait too long to get reading glasses. The more you strain your eyes, the quicker they tire, which can lead to headaches. If you’re squinting or closing your eyes to read, it’s probably time. Good lighting also helps prevent fatigue and discomfort.

Can I prevent reading glasses?

Research shows that eye aging is inevitable—sooner or later, almost everyone will need reading glasses. Some people say eye exercises have delayed their need, but there’s no guarantee. At best, you might postpone it, but you can’t avoid it forever.

Are there any alternatives?

Laser eye surgery can correct your vision, but presbyopia still develops over time, meaning you may still need reading glasses later. Another option is lens replacement surgery, which can eliminate the need for glasses but is expensive.

If you choose reading glasses, make sure they fit comfortably so you’ll actually enjoy wearing them. And if your prescription changes, Glazoo can fit new lenses into your existing frames—no need to buy a whole new pair.

Learn more about our reading glasses
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