How To Choose Reading Glasses

Whether you are searching for reading glasses for men, or whether you are searching for reading glasses for women, there are a few common principles that you should keep in mind to ensure that style alone does not drive your decision and result in regret. Let’s look at how to choose reading glasses and make a long term decision that makes long term sense.

 

Nose position, arm length, and the type of glasses you need  

Some people prefer to perch their glasses on the end of their nose and look down at whatever reading task is at hand (e.g. perhaps a crossword puzzle or a little light reading in the lounge). In contrast, other people may prefer to mount their glasses high on the bridge of their nose and look straight ahead at an eye level computer screen. This in itself brings the consideration over arm length into question - those who prefer to perch their glasses on the end of their nose would not do well to choose a short arm, whereas those only need a shorter arm should avoid the extra weight of a longer arm.  

We also must consider the purpose of the glasses. While many believe that eyeglasses for reading are the exact same glasses that should be used for computer use, this is in fact not true. For example, a book or computer screen placed at around 18 inches from your eyes will require a different lens power in comparison to reading materials that are placed at 28 inches from your eyes. This also brings us onto blue light protection …

 

Blue light from devices is your enemy 

Blue light is the reason you cannot go straight from your device to your pillow and expect to sleep. Blue light convinces our brains that daytime is upon us, meaning the brain does not go through any of the normal preparations for shutting down at the end of the day (the brain begins to release a sleep hormone called melatonin at night time - but when the message from the eyes to the brain is that the time of day is in fact midday, the brain does not release this hormone, making it harder for you to get to sleep). 

Whether you are searching for reading glasses for men, or whether you are searching for reading glasses for women, there are a few common principles that you should keep in mind to ensure that style alone does not drive your decision and result in regret. Let’s look at how to choose reading glasses and make a long term decision that makes long term sense.

 

 

When choosing reading glasses, you must consider the purpose of the glasses, and where computer usage is high on your list, look into your options in relation to glasses that filter blue light. If you fail to secure such glasses and you wish to keep using screens at night time, try to come off your device approximately one hour before bed time.

 

Get the right fit 

Glasses are fitted to your head in different ways. The two most basic considerations regarding comfort should be bridge width and overall frame width. This is because a narrow bridge can pinch your nose, and a narrow frame width can squeeze at the temples, both of which are concerns to which you will wish you had paid more attention if you get it wrong!