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February is Low Vision Awareness Month
A New Perspective on Frames: Choosing the right reading glasses
February is Low Vision Awareness Month. If you’re holding your book at arm’s length, then it’s probably time for a new frame of reference. Or, more likely, some references on new frames. The signs you need reading glasses are easy to spot.
What’s more difficult is choosing your next steps. Sure, you need glasses, but what kind and when? Can your eyes last another year? Anyone who is holding a smartphone or a cereal box farther away because of trouble reading is likely asking these questions. And how they are answered is crucial for future eye health.
Many may be inclined to grab a pair of pharmacy or grocery store eyeglasses. That solution, however, could only be as long-lasting as the expiration dates on the canned goods nearby. And while drugstore frames are easy to access, the lenses are not customized to our eyes. They are universal, while our vision problems are not.
Choosing the right reading glasses begins with framing up the symptoms. Other than arm’s-length reading, physicians have identified several warning signs:
- Noticing objects nearby are out of focus or fuzzy
- An inability to focus on words when trying to read
- Eye strain, eye fatigue, or drowsiness when performing activities such as solving a crossword puzzle, drawing, or working on the computer
- Frequent unexplained headaches
Eyeglasses may be a necessity, but that does not mean they have to be a chore. Eyeglasses are functional fashion, and choosing the frames can be as enjoyable as shopping for a new watch, or pair of shoes. No one needs an appointment to visit the eyeglass store and try on a few frames. That said, there are a lot of options.
So, let’s narrow them down:
- Go full or half full? They look just as they sound. In a full frame, the entire lens is matched to the vision prescription. The smaller half-eye glasses sit a little lower on the nose.
- Made in the shades: If you like to read on the deck but the sun turns the page into a white light, consider reading glasses with UV protection.
- Be progressive: If you already have difficulty seeing at a distance, then you may want to manage all eye issues at once with a set of progressive lenses or bifocals.
- Know when to fold ’em: While foldable glasses are a common sight at drugstores, some manufacturers produce highly fashionable folding frames that are prescription-lens compatible.
Only through an exam by an eye doctor can you identify the specifics of your eyesight needs. Until then, the distance between your eyes and that book speak volumes about your vision future.
For more information on how to choose the right reading glasses, read here.
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