As you age, the lenses of your eyes become less flexible, making it difficult to focus close objects and small texts. When the time comes to purchase reading glasses, you may wonder if it’s worth going through the entire process of visiting an optometrist and paying for prescription glasses or if opting for the more affordable over-the-counter glasses will do. Keep reading to learn more about the matter.
It’s very tempting to settle for store-bought reading glasses if it means shelling out a portion of the total cost of its prescribed alternative. But this also means having to deal with quality issues that plague most items purchased at a discounted price. Minor bubbles on the lenses of over-the-counter glasses may potentially cause your eyesight to decline more rapidly without you noticing it. Meanwhile, polycarbonate and other materials used for prescription lenses are usually free of defects and are sturdy enough to withstand cold and hot temperatures.
Picking out a pair of reading glasses in a store can be confusing since you need the expertise of an optometrist to determine what exactly you need. For instance, do you know if you need plus ones or plus twos? Keep in mind that finding the right strength for you is not always easy. Buying lenses that are too strong can actually hurt your eyes a lot more and even induce headaches.
An optometrist will administer a comprehensive eye exam to determine how strong your reading glasses need to be so you can select the perfect glasses for you. They can also detect conditions that are still in the early stages that may be affecting your eyesight.
Alderwood Optical and Canyon Park Vision Clinic are eye-care specialty clinics serving Bothell, Lynnwood, and Shoreline, WA. Our committed staff aims to help patients improve the quality of their lives through vision rehabilitation and personalized care management. Call us at (425) 771-8472 or (425) 485-0430 to learn more about our services. You may also fill out our contact form to request an appointment.