Ultimately, the best reading glasses are the ones that provide clear vision, fit comfortably, and make you the feel the most you you ever have. Here’s what you should consider when choosing your next pair of handy-dandy readers: your desired level of magnification, frame shape and material, comfort, and durability. As for spectacle style, choose a design that suits your face shape while speaking to your soul, whether it's lovingly classic, excitingly trendy, or something completely kookoo bananas fun. We recommend opting for high-quality materials to ensure your readers last you years – lucky for you, eyebobs are made with Italian-designed acetate, flexible spring hinges, and optical-grade lenses. We’ll hold for the applause. 

Progressive reading glasses are, indeed, very real. Also known as multi-focal or vari-focal glasses, they are designed to provide different focal corrections in a single lens (yes, really!). Unlike traditional reading specs that have a fixed strength throughout the entire lens, progressives offer a gradual transition from distance vision at the top of the lens to intermediate and near vision at the bottom. This allows wearers to have crystal clear vision at various distances without the need to constantly swap between different pairs of glasses. You’ll forget you’re wearing them (until you get your next compliment, that is).

One drawback is the adjustment period required when transitioning to progressive lenses. As the lens design incorporates multiple focal powers, some wearers may initially experience slight distortions or need time to adapt to the different zones. However, the advantages of progressive lenses make adjusting to them well worth the wait! We’d say you should take our word for it, but our hundreds of five-star progressive reviews speak for themselves. (Wink, wink). 

For those who prefer the classics, the timeless trio of black, grey, or tortoise reading glasses will help you lean into timeless elegance. Now, if you’re the type to infuse a bit of playfulness into your reading sessions, the rainbow beckons. And by rainbow, we mean a riot of colorful frames from more muted sea-breeze blue, crystalline green, and sunset orange to screaming pink, cherry red, sunshine yellow, and purple zebra print. For those who find subtlety to be their strong suit, clear and cream options offer a more neutral aesthetic. Crystal reading frames add an element of intrigue to your reading sessions: transparently, they’re incredibly elegant conversation starters.

Here, you’ll find readers of every shape – including octagons, trapezoids, butterfly wings, and upside-down triangles. Classic cat-eye reading glasses allow you to time travel to an era dripping with vintage glamor, giving your reading sessions the appearance of an old Hollywood movie. Half-rim readers are excellent optical accomplices, marrying modern sleekness with a nod to tradition. Oval reading frames and round readers offer a softer, more rounded silhouette that complements plenty of face shapes, while rectangle and square reading frames straddle the line between professionalism and playfulness.

You can find out right now! Gasp! Ooh! Aah! Take our reader strength test to identify your perfect reader strength (or diopter, as we optical nerds call it), and be on your merry way to shopping special spectacles ASAP. Having an eye examination conducted by an optometrist or ophthalmologist is another great way to calculate your reader strength. They will conduct tests to evaluate your near vision and determine the appropriate magnification strength for your reading glasses.

While both reading and prescription glasses help you to see the wonderful world around you, they serve different purposes for your precious pupils. Reading glasses are specifically designed to correct presbyopia. They do not need a prescription and come in a range of strengths for individuals who desperately need to read the fine (or not so fine) print. Prescription glasses are specifically designed to treat vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and even astigmatism. Prescription glasses are custom-made to suit individual needs and offer additional features, like progressive lenses, and even blue light protection. Did we mention we offer hundreds of colors and styles for both reader and prescription glasses? Do with that information what you will.

No, a prescription is not required for reading glasses. All you need to buy reading glasses is your reader strength. By trying different strengths, you can find the one that provides optimal clarity for reading and close-up tasks. However, if you have other vision conditions or concerns, it is advisable to consult with an eye care professional who can assess your eye health and recommend the most suitable vision correction options.