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Reading glasses: presbyopia, drugstore readers and when to see an eye doctor

By the Life in Good Form editors. Updated 2026-10-15.

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What presbyopia is

The NEI describes presbyopia as a refractive error that makes it hard for middle-aged and older adults to see things up close. It is a normal part of aging, usually starts after age 45, and usually stops getting worse after age 65.

Common signs, per the NEI, include:

• Trouble seeing things up close
• Needing to hold reading materials farther away to focus on them
• Eye strain, when your eyes feel tired or sore
• Headache

Readers, bifocals or progressives

Details are from the NEI's pages on presbyopia and eyeglasses for refractive errors.

Drugstore readers vs a prescription

The NEI says some people use over-the-counter reading glasses, and that your eye doctor can also prescribe lenses. Drugstore readers usually have the same strength in both lenses, so they suit people whose eyes need the same help up close. If your two eyes differ, you have astigmatism, or you need help at more than one distance, prescribed lenses may work better.

Even if readers work well for you, the NEI says it is important to get regular eye exams. Eye doctors can check for presbyopia as part of a comprehensive eye exam, which the NEI calls simple and painless. If you wear eyeglasses, get an exam as often as your eye doctor recommends.

Before you need glasses

For early changes, the NEI suggests a few simple steps:

• Hold reading materials farther away.
• Choose large-print books, or increase the font size on the computer.
• Use brighter reading lights.

As presbyopia gets worse, the NEI says you will probably need glasses or contact lenses to help you read. For small print, see our lighted magnifier guide.

Lens safety rules

Under FDA rules, eyeglasses and sunglasses must be fitted with impact-resistant lenses, unless a physician or optometrist directs otherwise in writing. Lenses must withstand a test in which a 5/8-inch steel ball weighing about 0.56 ounce is dropped from a height of 50 inches onto the lens, and nonprescription lenses are tested on a statistically significant sampling basis.

Impact resistance is not the same as safety eyewear for work or sports, so use protective eyewear made for those tasks.

Choosing a pair

• Test at your usual distance. Try readers holding a book or phone where you normally read.
• Full frame or half-eye. Half-eye readers let you look over the top to see across a room; full frames give a wider reading area.
• Check the fit. The frame should sit level and stay put when you look down at a page, without pinching your nose or ears.
• Protect the lenses. Store readers in a case and clean them with a lens cloth to avoid scratches that blur close work.
• Keep spares where you read most, such as by the bed, at a desk and in a bag.
• Screen work. A computer screen is often farther away than a book; see our blue light blocking glasses guide for screen-related claims.
• Contact lens wearers can ask an eye doctor about options; see our contact lens solution guide for lens care.

When to see an eye doctor

Get a comprehensive eye exam if your near vision changes, if readers do not help, or if you have frequent headaches or eye strain. See an eye doctor promptly for sudden vision loss, flashes of light, new floaters, eye pain or double vision, which are not symptoms that reading glasses can fix.

For dry, tired eyes after long reading sessions, see our preservative-free eye drops guide.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

At what age do you need reading glasses?

The NEI says presbyopia usually starts after age 45.

Are drugstore reading glasses OK?

The NEI says some people use over-the-counter readers, but regular eye exams are still important.

What is the difference between bifocals and progressives?

Bifocals have near and distance areas; progressives have no visible line between them, per the NEI.

Does presbyopia keep getting worse?

The NEI says it usually stops getting worse after age 65.

Are reading glass lenses impact resistant?

FDA rules require eyeglass lenses to be impact resistant and pass a drop-ball test.

Sources

• Presbyopia (nei.nih.gov), National Eye Institute
• Eyeglasses for Refractive Errors (nei.nih.gov), National Eye Institute
• 21 CFR 801.410, Use of impact-resistant lenses in eyeglasses and sunglasses (ecfr.gov), Electronic Code of Federal Regulations

Sources checked 2026-10-15.