Reading Glasses: What's the difference?

Reading glasses are used, primarily, by people over 40-years old who have difficulty focusing their close-up vision. Reading glasses are available without a prescription making them a cost-effective, practical solution; however, they are not intended to correct refraction issues such as astigmatism, refractive, or prismatic differences between the left and right eyes, for example. They aren’t made to correct such issues since they’re simply used to increase most users’ ability to see up-close for tasks such as reading.

Corrective lens requirements on driver's licenses are common for those who need eyeglasses to see properly. Such requirements aren’t served by reading glasses, but license requirements oblige individuals to wear their prescription glasses every time they drive or face penalties.

Glasses made to conform to a recent eye doctor’s prescription are essential for complete astigmatic and refractive correction, a challenge different from, and less expensive than, the challenge solved by reading glasses.

Reading glasses are available from many retailers and e-commerce operators and a range of prices. The difference between them all is manufacturing quality and style, a factor that’s vital to many modern Americans.