Reading glasses - doctor visit required?!
Question: I have to admit there are times, like when reading cat food labels, that I could benefit from a pair of reading glasses. Can I just get a pair from Walgreen's or is there really a reason I need to go to the eye doc? If there is a reason, please tell me in detail. I'm not wasting time and money for no good reason.
I'm 42 dammit. This question is costing me more than 5 points.
Answers: I have to admit there are times, like when reading cat food labels, that I could benefit from a pair of reading glasses. Can I just get a pair from Walgreen's or is there really a reason I need to go to the eye doc? If there is a reason, please tell me in detail. I'm not wasting time and money for no good reason.
I'm 42 dammit. This question is costing me more than 5 points.
LOL...welcome to reading glass crowd.
No problem with the cheap readers to start with, for occaissional use. But you may not find them all that comfortable for your eyes if you like to read a lot.
A visit to the eye doc every 2 years is a good idea anyway though.
Your eyes may not be the same, or there could be a small amount of astigmatism that should be corrected.
But, if you see well enough with the Walgreen readers for now, it can't do any harm.
For reading glasses you can go to Walgreens to get a pair and save some money, sure. You're in luck because those are the only kind that you can buy at stores just like that. Dollar stores tend to have them too if you want to go for cheaper but can't say they will last too long! It's when you start having problems seeing from afar, or have other issues such as astigmatism that you might want to see your doctor because you won't be able to get glasses without seeing one. Good luck!
42 is the exact age that just about everyone needs reading glasses. Just go any place and get some. Make sure you get the ones with spring hinges. 1.25 or 1.50 (weak) should be the strength that you need. You will need to get more than one pair because you will always be misplacing them.
It would be best to go to the eye doctor to check your eyes, and see exactly what strength you would need, especially if you think you may need to wear them more than just every now and then for a few minutes. You can get a fairly priced eye exam at Wal-Mart Vision Center, usually under $100 even without insurance. I had my exam and contact fitting at a Wal-Mart Vision Center, and it cost me $91 without insurance.
If you really only plan on using them occasionally, you can always go to a store like Walgreens and just keep trying pairs on until you think you've found the ones that seem to work best for you.
It's always a good idea to have your eyes checked once a year, or at least every two years though.
Some of the best reading that Wonder has ever done was from cat food labels.
Purina and Tender Vittles are 2 of Wonder's favorite labels to read.
<----- member of the Cat Food Label Book of the Month Club
LOL - don't feel bad - I got bifocals at age 39, and I'm only 42 myself.
However, if you don't have messed up eyes like mine - one farsighted, one nearsighted - then the reading glasses at Walgreens should be just fine. Try them on til you get the ones with the most clarity. That's what my dad does - two pairs - one for reading, one for engineering work.
No, there's no doctor visit required for reading glasses. I've seen them cheap at Walgreen's, Rite Aid/CVS, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Wal-mart, etc. Basically everyone carries them. They come in different strengths. E.g. 1.1+ is a low strength for people who only need a little help with their vision. I've seen them from $5-$35 depending on the make I suppose. Good luck with your reading!!
I have annual eye exams (age 56), since I'm a diabetic. If I were you, I would go to get one exam, then buy your reading glasses from the drug store if you don't need them for reading all the time (I do). I guess that only works if you are far sighted. I have a pretty high diopter now +2.5 to 2.75. I also bought one really good pair which I need for long term reading.
Its always best to get prescription reading glasses because your eyes probably need different powers of correction for reading and the over the counter glasses will be the same in both eyes, so one eye might be straining. Also you might have a astigmatism that needs correction.