Reading Glasses Strength: How to Test Your Eyes

TAKE IT NOW

We all reach a point where we realize we can no longer read the restaurant menu. Sure, you could put it down to the froufrou font and mood lighting. Or, you could embrace the natural evolution of your eyesight with a rather remarkable pair of readers. Lucky for you, we consider ourselves know-it-alls on the subject.

Whether you’re a near-sighted newbie, a veteran of the Rite-Aid vision aisle, or a pro bodybuilder, you need to know your strength. If you fall into one of the prior two categories, this has to do with the amount of magnification you need in your readers to help you make out the absurdly teensy print on your new IKEA couch’s instruction manual. How do I know my strength, you may ask? Read on, and we’ll clear things right up.

We all reach a point where we realize we can no longer read the restaurant menu. Sure, you could put it down to the froufrou font and mood lighting. Or, you could embrace the natural evolution of your eyesight with a rather remarkable pair of readers. Lucky for you, we consider ourselves know-it-alls on the subject.

Whether you’re a near-sighted newbie, a veteran of the Rite-Aid vision aisle, or a pro bodybuilder, you need to know your strength. If you fall into one of the prior two categories, this has to do with the amount of magnification you need in your readers to help you make out the absurdly teensy print on your new IKEA couch’s instruction manual. How do I know my strength, you may ask? Read on, and we’ll clear things right up.

How Do Reading Glasses Work?

How Do Reading Glasses Work?

If you ask us, they work by making you look stupendous and giving you an air of inexplicable wisdom. If you ask an eye doctor, they might tell you that reading glasses magnify all of the information coming into your eyes, making it easier for you to focus on up-close activities like reading, writing, or mindlessly playing solitaire (during work hours) on your computer screen.

What is Reader Strength?

What is Reader Strength?

Simply put, reader strength refers to the intensity of magnification you’ll need in your lenses, ranging from +1.00 to +4.00. You can visit your eye care provider for some help determining the proper strength for you, or you can take our handy-dandy reader strength test.

What Strength Readers Do I Need?

What Strength Readers Do I Need?

The strength of your reading glasses is measured in units called diopters. The higher the number, the more powerful the magnification in your lens. If you choose reading glasses with a strength that doesn’t match your eyes, you might experience side effects like unfocused text, headaches, and eye strain – suboptimal conditions for an enjoyable read. You deserve readers that make you look forward to cracking open a book, and look damn good doing it.

The Best of the Best Readers

The Best of the Best Readers

What Are the Highest and Lowest Reader Strengths Available?

What Are the Highest and Lowest Reader Strengths Available?

Our readers start at +1.00 as the lowest strength, and increase in increments of +0.25 up to +3.00. We also offer +3.00, +3.50, and +4.00 for those who need a little extra oomph in their reader strength. As a general rule, if you just need a little boost to keep things in focus, you are probably closer to a +1.00. If words look more like inkblots from a Rorschach Test … well, you may need a more substantial power, like a +4.00.

What is the Average Strength for Reading Glasses?

What is the Average Strength for Reading Glasses?

We aren’t ones to over-generalize, so keep in mind that just as with any prescription, your reader strength is unique to your eyeballs and yours alone. While most people use readers between +1.00 and +2.50 diopters in strength, the strength you need will inevitably evolve along with your eyesight.

Will the Reading Glasses Power I Need
Change Over Time?

Will the Reading Glasses Power I Need
Change Over Time?

Yes, indeed – nothing gold can stay, unfortunately, and that includes your close-up vision. You will invariably need to up your reader strength as you get more years under your belt. Good thing you get some spiffy new eye candy out of the deal, right? Although reader strength varies on a case-by-case basis, most eye care professionals agree on a sort of guiding line based on age. Those who fall between the ages of 40 and 49 will generally need a reader strength of +1.00 to +1.50. Individuals aged 50 to 59 typically use readers with a strength of around +2.00, and those over the age of 60 often need readers with a strength of +2.50.

Step 1: Print

Print our magnification chart, a.k.a. reader strength test. Make sure to select “Print to Size” and not “Scaled to Fit Paper” to ensure the test is accurate.

Step 2: Read

Hold the printed chart 14 inches from your face for best use. You can wear corrective lenses, but no glasses; that’s cheating. And we only endorse cheating if it’s on your current glasses with a new pair of eyebobs.

Start by reading at the top line and work your way down. The first line that appears blurry will have your best magnification listed to the right.

Step 3: Shop

The part you’ve been waiting for. Now that you know your perfect magnification, you can begin your search for a new pair of daring optical doodads. Perhaps you’d like to start with our best-selling spectacles of all time, or maybe you’re more interested in our bewilderingly bold options? Either way, we’ve got you covered.

You're Ready to Take the Test!

Go ahead, put yourself to the test.

Take the Test Now

So, can you read us now? If not, you’ll certainly be able to soon. Now that you’ve reached reading strength enlightenment, you’re ready to go forth and see up close. We wish you nothing but clear vision, good books, and spectacular specs, our near-sighted friends. Happy reading!

So, can you read us now? If not, you’ll certainly be able to soon. Now that you’ve reached reading strength enlightenment, you’re ready to go forth and see up close. We wish you nothing but clear vision, good books, and spectacular specs, our near-sighted friends. Happy reading!