Reading Glasses Buying Guide

Reading Glasses Guide

Regular eye tests and consultation with a qualified eye care professional are recommended.
If you have any concerns about your eyes or eyesight make sure you book an examination with your local optician.

What is the difference between reading glasses and prescription glasses?

Prescription Glasses
Following an eye examination, if you require glasses you will be given a prescription to be made up by an optician to help your eyes focus more clearly on both close and distance objects and correct almost all vision conditions.

Reading Glasses
Ready-to-wear reading glasses (also known as ready readers) offer an excellent value way of correcting near vision issues caused by presbyopia. This is the loss of the ability of the eyes over time to focus clearly on near objects making reading and close work more difficult. This starts to occur from about the age of 40 and the reading strength, or correction, required increases gradually with age. Ready readers are manufactured with the same strength in both lenses.

Do I need reading glasses?

At around the age of 40 our eyesight starts to change and it becomes more difficult to read small print, perform close work and eyes become tired when reading or working at a computer. This condition is called presbyopia and is due to a decrease in the elasticity of the eye's lens causing the eyes to strain to focus on near objects. This is distinct from farsightedness, or hyperopia, a condition in which you can see distant objects clearly, but objects nearby may be blurry. Hyperopia is usually present at birth, however presbyopia develops as we get older. Staying up to date with regular eye examinations is the best way to know when you need your first pair of reading glasses as well as in the interests of both eye and general health.

What strength of reading glasses do I need?

There are a number of ways to determine the ideal strength reading glasses and reading sunglasses for you. Please note that in the interests of eye health we recommend regular eye tests and consultation with an optician and these options are in no way a replacement for this.

Strength Calculator: For an accurate guide, we recommend using our online strength calculator. Simply by entering your latest glasses prescription, taken in the last two years, you will be able to find your ideal strength:

Calculate My Strength

Your Optician: Your optician will be able to tell you what strength ready-to-wear reading glasses are most suitable for you either from your current glasses prescription or at the completion of an eye test.

Eye Chart: Alternatively, as a good approximate guide to your reading strength please download and print out our eye chart which is in PDF format. It is exactly A4 in size so must be printed onto A4 paper in it’s actual size with no page scaling, resizing or fitting selected. The eye chart must be printed in order to ensure correct results as on-screen sizes vary between computers.

Download Eye Chart

Please note: You are welcome to return any items within 28 days of dispatch for an exchange or refund should they prove unsuitable - please see the returns section of the Help & FAQ page for more information.

Clear lenses (+0.00) are available on our blue lens glasses for customers who do not require any magnification or correction but just require the benefit of reducing blue light from digital devices such as computers, tablets and phones.

+0.00 +0.50 +0.75 +1.00 +1.25 +1.50 +1.75 +2.00 +2.25 +2.50 +2.75 +3.00 +3.25 +3.50 +4.00 +4.50 +5.00

What types and styles of reading glasses are available?

It is a very personal choice deciding what type of reading glasses are most suitable and many options for both men and women are available. This includes styles such as classic, retro and rimless as well as designer brands, different frame shapes and styles with features such as spring hinges or extra long temples allowing them to hang around the neck when not in use. Many colour and pattern options also exist including not only traditional black and tortoiseshell but multi-coloured patterns, bold colours and even neon! At Tiger Specs we offer 28 day returns for exchange or refund should glasses not prove suitable.

What are blue light glasses or computer glasses?

Blue light glasses, available with and without reading correction, reduce the blue light reaching the eyes from all types of digital screens such as mobile phones, tablets and computer monitors. The lenses filter out blue light and may reduce the problems of eye strain and headaches associated with using screens for long periods as well as aid sleep, so are also ideal for use in the evening.

Blue Light Glasses »

What is the difference between reading sunglasses and sunglasses?

Reading sunglasses provide the benefits of reading correction or magnification, as with normal reading glasses, for reading and close work while also featuring tinted lenses providing full UV400 sun protection. They are the perfect holiday accessory for reading in the sun and protecting your eyes at the same time. At Tiger Specs we also stock a range of bifocal reading sunglasses. These have regular sunglasses lenses with the reading magnification only in the lower portion, as a bifocal, meaning you can enjoy the sun and read any small print without changing for a pair of sunglasses for distance vision. No need to carry both reading glasses and sunglasses!

Reading Sunglasses » Bifocal Reading Sunglasses »