Is It OK to Wear Your Reading Glasses All the Time?

If you’re squinting to read your phone screen or holding the morning newspaper far away from your face to see the words, you may need reading glasses.

But how often should you wear these spectacles? Is wearing reading glasses all the time a bad thing? Below, we will answer all your questions about wearing reading glasses all the time and offer tips on getting optimal use from your spectacles.

Who Should Use Reading Glasses?

Anyone who has trouble seeing things up close can benefit from wearing reading glasses. But they are particularly useful to individuals over the age of 40 because of a condition called presbyopia.

Presbyopia is when your eyes lose their ability to focus on close-up objects. It’s a normal part of the aging process, and it starts to show up in an individual’s early- to mid-40s. The condition gradually worsens as you grow older, and its severity peaks at around age 65.

Not sure if you have presbyopia? Some telltale signs that you have this condition are:

• You tend to hold reading materials further away from your face than usual.
• You get headaches or eye strain after doing close-up work.
• You experience blurred vision at a standard reading distance.

It’s essential to be aware of these potential signs of presbyopia. But a qualified optometrist can perform a thorough examination to determine if you have this condition. From there, they can recommend the right prescription for your reading glasses.

Can Reading Glasses Be Used All the Time?

For some people, wearing reading glasses all the time doesn’t present any issues. However, most of these people have a very weak or low prescription that doesn’t obstruct their daily activities. In fact, the slight prescription can sharpen some images and let them view the world more clearly.

However, if you have a stronger prescription, you shouldn’t wear your reading glasses all the time.

What Happens If You Use Reading Glasses All the Time?

Some people enjoy wearing reading glasses frequently, as they will have their spectacles handy when they need to read print materials, use their smartphone, or perform up-close work like sewing. But you shouldn’t rely on them for every task in your life.

Wearing reading glasses all the time won’t harm your eyes’ health, but you may get a headache from wearing them while driving, playing sports, or other activities that involve a wider scope of vision.

It’s important to get the right glasses for your particular circumstances. You’ll need to schedule an appointment with your optometrist to choose the appropriate eyewear. You may benefit from getting bifocal or progressive lenses to correct distance and near vision.

And if you plan on using the computer frequently, you may want to get blue light lenses that prevent digital eye strain. 

Do I Need Prescription Reading Glasses?

Some reading glasses are prescription, while others aren’t. If you visit your local drug store, you can pick up a pair of over-the-counter reading glasses. But if you want a pair that caters to your exact vision, it’s best to get your reading glasses through an optometrist. An optometrist will perform a thorough eye examination to prescribe you the correct strength of lenses. 

This eye exam can also help your optometrist if you need different spectacles to improve your close-up and far-away vision.

Tips for Using Reading Glasses Appropriately & Having Them on Hand When Needed

Reading glasses are a godsend for helping you complete up-close activities. Without them, you may have difficulty writing a report for your job, scanning a news article, or completing a puzzle on a relaxing Sunday morning.

Below, you can learn four tips for using your reading glasses appropriately so that you’ll always have them on hand when you need them.

1. Get Multiple Pairs

If you can afford to, consider buying multiple pairs of reading glasses. Keep one pair at work, one pair in your bedroom, and one pair in the living room. You’ll never be without a pair when you need it.

Instead of wearing reading glasses all the time, you can rely on your multiple pairs. With several options, you’re sure to always have at least one accessible pair you can use when you need to look at something up close.

If you decide to invest in multiple pairs of glasses, be sure to store them wisely. Keep them away from warm places like on top of your car’s dashboard or near heat sources like indoor radiators. The heat can warp the lenses and plastic frames, rendering your spectacles useless.

2. Take Them off With Both Hands

You’ve already learned that wearing reading glasses all the time isn’t the wisest move. So, you may find yourself taking them on and off several times throughout the day. When you put on and remove your glasses, use both hands. Don’t rip them off with one hand, as doing so can damage the frames and cause them to rest uncomfortably on your face.

3. Don’t Wear Them on Top of Your Head

Don’t use the top of your head as storage space for your reading glasses when you don’t need them. You’ll cause the glasses’ temples to stretch out over time. Instead, consider getting a rope to attach your glasses to and wear the cord around your neck. This way, your spectacles are always within reach when you need them.

4. Don’t Fall Asleep Wearing Them

Reading before bed is a must for some folks. It helps you unwind after a long day and prepare for a restful night’s sleep. But always make sure to take your spectacles off before you fall asleep. Knocking out while wearing them may result in deformed frames or a snapped-off temple, and you won’t have your spectacles to use for the following days.

Having Trouble Seeing? Schedule an Eye Appointment Today!

If you’re having trouble seeing in your everyday life, schedule an eye appointment with True Eye Experts today. An optometrist will evaluate your eye health and recommend the best course of action for correcting your vision and preserving the condition of your eyes.