As we get older – usually near the age of 40 – we often begin to struggle to see things clearly that are up-close. This condition is called farsightedness and while it is inconvenient and annoying, it is a natural part of the aging process.
The fact that it’s common, however, does not make farsightedness any less frustrating when we have to hold the restaurant menu across the table to see it. Fortunately, reading glasses are a low-cost, effective solution for this vision problem and they do not require a doctor’s prescription.
Our best reading glasses guide will take out any guesswork and give you everything you need to choose the style and type that is right for you.
What You Should Know
Reading glasses come in two primary styles – full frames or a smaller “Ben Franklin” style that sits lower on the nose. Full frame reading glasses work best when you spend lots of time focusing on reading materials or other things in close range and don’t plan to look up often.
The smaller, half-eye style allows you to look down and through the lens at close-up materials then up and over the glasses to see distant objects without having to remove them.
Both styles are available as non-prescription readers and because they are much less costly than prescription glasses, you can afford to have several pairs on hand (in the house, car and office). The low cost also lets you experiment with shape and color without breaking the bank.
Top 10 Reading Glasses Ultimate Table
| Picture | Name | Half or Full Size | M or F | Rating | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. TruVision Readers Reading Glasses 4 Pack | Full | Both | $$$$ | 4.8 |
 | 2. TruVision Readers WayFarer Reading 2 Pack | Full | Both | $$ | 4.7 |
 | 3. Success Eyewear READING GLASSES | Full | Women | $$ | 4.7 |
 | 4. GAMMA RAY Readers 3 Pack | Full | Women | $ | 4.6 |
 | 5. Eyekepper Spring Hinges | Full | Men | $$$ | 4.6 |
 | 6. DoubleTake 2 Pairs | Half | Both | $ | 4.6 |
 | 7. DoubleTake 2 Pairs Foldable | Half/Folding | Both | $ | 4.6 |
 | 8. Specs Mens Half Rimmed | Full | Men | $$$ | 4.5 |
 | 9. Gamma Ray Deluxe | Full | Both | $ | 4.5 |
 | 10. GAMMA RAY Readers 4 Pack | Full | Both | $ | 4.5 |
Buying Information for Reading Glasses
We all want our reading glasses to look great. And the wide variety of frame styles and colors available now in stores and online ensure that that won’t be a problem. But after great looks, we need to focus – no pun intended – on how to get a comfortable fit, what strength we need, and whether we’re getting the right pair for all our up close vision needs.
Getting a comfortable fit means a lens that is not too big or small, a bridge size that fits your nose well enough to keep the glasses from slipping, and shafts or arms that are long enough to place the bend in them at the top of your ear. Unless you’ve worn glasses before and know the fit you need, the best approach is the old-fashioned one – go to a store and try on multiple pairs.
If you want to buy online, this exercise will help you determine what general shape and style is most comfortable for you before you order. An in-store trial also helps you determine the right lens strength since you can try various ones and see what works best. We recommend that you take some reading materials with you to the store.
Strengths come in whole and partial numbers that indicate the lens magnification level such as +0.5, +1.00or +1.5 and usually range from 0.5 all the way up to 6.00. It’s best to try the lowest power first. Put them on and try reading some of the things you brought at a comfortable distance. If you have to hold the material too far out, try the next strength number and so on until you land on the right one.
A general but reliable rule of thumb is:
- 40 Years Old. Start with a +1.00.
- 45 Years Old. Start with a +1.50.
- 50 Years Old. Start with a +2.00.
- 60 Years Old+. Start with a +2.50 or +3.00.
Finally, remember that reading printed materials is done at closer range than reading materials on a computer screen. Your computer screen will always be farther away than something you’re reading in your hands so be sure and consider this when buying your reading glasses. You may want to consider a separate pair with a different lens strength for computer work.
Top 5 Best Reading Glasses Reviews
1. TruVision 4 Pack
The manufacturer of this top-rated product really listened to what users of reading glasses typically complain about – “the screws fell out”, “the arms snapped off”, “they’re pinchy-tight” or “they’re too loose”.
These glasses are superbly made with spring-loaded arms that bend out as well as in meaning they fit almost any head size, and specially engineered dura-tight screws that won’t loosen easily or fall out.
But Truvision did not sacrifice fashion for function. While they may be ultra-comfortable and sturdy, these glasses also come in 8 great colors which you can mix and match to create your 4-pack or you can buy a single pair in any color. And the modern design looks great on men or women.
Another reason these were given the top spot among our best reading glasses is that each pair in the 4-pack comes with its own individual micro-fiber cleaning cloth/bag that removes any smudges or streaks on the lens without scratching. Strength options range from +0.5 to +6.00 so there’s a lens power for everyone.
2. TruVision 2 Pack
TruVision claims not only the number 1 spot but also the number 2 spot in our top 10 reading glasses list. Essentially, these are the same style and shape reading glasses as the 4-pack above. But this time, TruVision offers them in a 2-pack with lens strengths ranging from +0.5 to +5.0. Each pair in the 2-pack still comes with its own individual micro-fiber cleaning cloth/bag.
Color options in this 2-pack are black and turquoise and while you can order both pair in the same color or one of each, no single pairs are offered this time around. Men and women can still enjoy the large lens and comfortable fit in the 2-pack and TruVision stands by their engineering regardless of packaging by offering a 6-month money-back guarantee on every pair they sell.
Buyers of both the 4-pack and 2-pack were especially impressed by the customer service they experienced, saying they immediately received an email from TruVision asking if they were completely happy with their purchase. Isn’t it true that wonderful customer service can make a good product great and a great product even better?
3. Success Eyewear
These Success Eyewear reading glasses are extremely high quality and the convenient 4-pack allows you to keep a pair in all the places you need to have them handy.
They are designed for women only but the classic shape is suitable for all female face shapes and the frame patterns and 4 colors (black, blue, burgundy and deep purple) mean you can be fashionable and see all at the same time!
Made with durable spring hinges, the glasses are lightweight and can be worn for long periods without worrying that they will leave marks on your nose or make your ears sore. They do not come with their own cleaning cloths, but are available in a lens strength range of +1.0 to +3.5.
4. GAMMA RAY
Though these reading glasses have a much smaller lens strength range of +0.5 to +2.75, they are designed for the heavy reader who spends most of their day or leisure time looking at reading material.
Designed especially for women, they are lightweight but sturdy and the lenses are large and ultra-clear so they remain comfortable even after hours of wear. The spring-loaded frames stand up well to lots of handling if you are prone to taking your glasses on and off frequently.
The 3-pack consists of frames in dark gray, light brown and a burgundy/red that compliment skin tones of most women and they do come with their own cleaning cloth to avoid lens scratching.
5. Eyekepper
The men now get equal time since these Eyekeeper reading glasses were designed with men in mind. They are a vintage but fashionable shape and there are 9 colors to choose from in creating your 5-pack order. You can even choose a sun-reader or tinted lens version if you frequently use your reading glasses while outside.
The lens strength range is +0.5 to +4.0, the spring-hinged shafts accommodate face widths from narrow to wide, and the lenses are made from a high quality, scratch-resistant material coated for extra protection. And you don’t have to worry about sitting on them if you leave them in your favorite chair since Eyekeeper provides a lifetime breakage warranty!