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Your glasses broke, and you’re in a bind - should you head to the drugstore and grab a cheap pair of ready-made reading glasses, or wait to get new prescription ones? In this article, we’ll explore when ready-made glasses are a convenient solution and when they might be harmful to your eyes.
What Are Reading Glasses and Why Are They Needed?
Reading glasses are specifically designed to help you focus on near tasks like reading books, using your smartphone, or doing computer work. Most people need reading glasses as they get older, due to a common condition called presbyopia - a natural loss of flexibility in the lenses in your eyes, making it harder to focus on close-up objects. These glasses magnify what you’re seeing to make reading small text easier and reduce eye strain. Whether you’re buying a pair of reading glasses for the first time or replacing broken ones, it’s important to choose a solution that meets your vision needs.
What’s the Difference Between Prescription and Ready-Made Reading Glasses?
Prescription reading glasses are tailored to your exact prescription based on an eye exam performed by an optometrist or optician. These glasses are customised with prescription lenses that are made to fit your face, match your unique vision in each eye, and ensure the centre of the lenses aligns with the front of your eyes.
On the other hand, ready-made reading glasses (also known as ready readers) are off-the-shelf reading glasses available at most drugstores or supermarkets. These glasses have the same lens power in both eyes, and they’re not built to account for astigmatism, nearsightedness, or any vision problems outside of basic near vision support.
What Happens When Your Regular Glasses Break?
It’s a scenario many people face: you break or misplace your pair of prescription glasses and suddenly can’t read a menu, send a text, or finish your book. The convenience of walking into a shop and buying ready-made reading glasses is appealing, especially if you’re on the go or don’t have a spare pair.
For emergencies, buying a pair of non-prescription reading glasses can help bridge the gap. But while they offer quick relief, they might not provide the clear vision or fit your face as well as glasses made for your specific prescription.
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Are Drugstore Reading Glasses Harmful to Your Eyes?
The good news is: using non-prescription reading glasses in the short term won’t do you any harm. They’re not harmful to your eyes if your eyes are healthy, and many people use them for occasional tasks like holding reading material or checking labels.
They won’t damage your eyes
Contrary to popular myths, non-prescription reading glasses or ready-made reading glasses from a drugstore won’t harm your eyes or make your vision worse. They don’t change the structure of your eye or affect your eye health in a negative way. Your eyesight may still change naturally over time, but that’s due to aging or medical conditions—not because of wearing ready readers.
They may not suit your unique vision needs
While drugstore glasses are generally safe for short-term use, they’re not tailored to your exact prescription. Each lens in ready-made glasses has the same strength and doesn’t account for:
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Differences between your eyes
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Astigmatism
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Pupil distance (PD)
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The position of the centre of the lenses
Wearing the wrong lens power or misaligned glasses can lead to symptoms like:
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Eye strain
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Headaches
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Blurry vision
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Difficulty focusing
This is especially likely if you’re wearing glasses from a drugstore for extended periods or for tasks like computer work.
Think of them as a short-term fix
Drugstore reading glasses are made for occasional use, like reading small print or menus. If you’ve broken your usual pair or just need a spare pair, they’re a convenient and affordable solution.
However, if you're noticing persistent discomfort or vision problems, it’s time to book an eye test and consider prescription reading glasses, which are custom made to suit your vision correction needs and fit your face properly.
When Do You Need Prescription Reading Glasses Instead?
If you’re noticing vision problems beyond basic near-blurriness, like blurry vision at all distances, uneven vision between eyes, or trouble adapting to computer work - you likely need prescription lenses. Prescription reading glasses are made to provide a filter to your prescription, taking all those factors into account.
Prescription readers are also important if you:
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Have astigmatism
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Need to correct your vision at both near and far distances
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Experience symptoms like headaches, eye fatigue, or double vision
In these cases, it’s best to book an eye test and order prescription glasses online or through your optician.
Do Non-Prescription Glasses Correct Other Vision Problems?
No, non-prescription reading glasses are only intended to magnify and assist with near vision. They don’t correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, and they can’t adapt to differences between eyes or custom fit needs. If you need more than just help with reading small text, ready reader glasses simply won’t meet your vision correction needs. They are not a substitute for prescription lenses if your eyes require detailed, tailored support.
How Do Reading Glasses Affect Near Vision and Presbyopia?
As you get older, your lenses in your eyes naturally become less flexible. This is the cause of presbyopia, and it affects nearly everyone past age 40. Reading glasses provide a boost in focusing power by allowing your eyes to focus on near objects like books, phones, or menus.
Ready-made reading glasses come in a range of strengths, typically from +1.00 to +3.50, each offering a power that helps you see clearly up close. But if you have varying needs in each eye, or your eyesight continues to change, your best bet is prescription readers that are carefully calculated to support your evolving vision needs.
Are Online Glasses a Good Alternative to Drugstore Glasses?
Ordering glasses online has become a popular option for those who want convenience and customisation. When your pair of glasses breaks, you can upload your prescription, choose frames and lenses, and get a new pair of prescription or ready-made reading glasses delivered to your door.
While online glasses can’t fully replace the experience of visiting an optician, many retailers now offer affordable, stylish, and high-quality options - some even allow free returns or in-home trials. Just make sure your prescription is up to date, and the glasses fit your face comfortably.
