Prescription reading glasses

VoucherMan

Fresh back from another eye test, and I'm wondering whether to take the plunge & buy some 'proper' glasses. I've resisted until now, making do with off the shelf reading glasses, but I'm trying to decide whether or not to treat myself.

While the optician assured me that my cheap glasses would be okay, she also reckons I'd see a noticeable improvement with some prescription glasses. The sceptic in me can't help wondering how much of her comment is the optician talking, and how much is the saleswoman.

Hoping there may be others here who can say whether they consider theirs a worthwhile investment.

I'm currently using glasses with +2.0 lenses. The prescription recommends:

Sph +0.25(L) +0.75(R), Add +2.25 for both, Int Add +1.50 for both.

tibawo

i got some proper reading glasses and i love them. think it may depend on your budget?

McKneff

I got some variefocals for everyday use as I am short sighted but I got a separate pair of great prescription  reading only glasses from Specsaverfor just £15 frames and lenses included
Absolutely brilliant, great service from the staff

twopenny

I have a seperate pair of reading glasses - but also varifocals and contacts.
I love my reading glasses. So comfortable to read with because they are adjusted to fit my head to give accurate vision.
But as mentioned, you don't have to have expensive frames. Just be aware that the cheaper frames can be less comfortable.
 
You don't have to decide immediately. You can try frames on at any optitions without purchase much as you would clothes in different shops. Just something fewer people do.
Oddly I found better frames at a reasonable price in an independent optitions.

Lorian

You have some astigmatism. I expect you might see some ghosting especially reading black text on a white background, but the angles make a difference .Things will look a bit clearer with prescription lenses. A really cheap (for prescription) pair from somewhere would allow you to try your prescription. Check HotUKDeals if you don't know where to get them cheap.

As this is MSE I should point out that once you try prescription ones you probably won't revert to to cheap reading glasses.

If you are buying cheap prescription glasses you will need to measure your pupil distance (Google) as it won't be on your prescription.

VoucherMan

Lorian said:

As this is MSE I should point out that once you try prescription ones you probably won't revert to to cheap reading glasses.

Being something of an MSE, this is by biggest 'concern', but under the circumstances, I'd consider it money well spent.

Lorian said:

If you are buying cheap prescription glasses you will need to measure your pupil distance (Google) as it won't be on your prescription.

Still something of a learning curve for me. Earlier today I spotted the glasses direct deal, and I've ordered a couple of pairs from them for £39. I could have gone cheaper if I'd been concentrating properly, but I'm not complaining at that price, even if I don't like them much. It's still a lot more comfortable than the £178 that my local optician wanted, and that's only for one pair.

Regarding the PD, the website has a 'don't know' option, which defaults to 63mm, with a comment that they'll get in contact if necessary, so I'll wait & see (no pun intended!).

Spoonie_Turtle

My vision is completely different from yours, I'm fairly shortsighted (-4 and -5.5 plus astigmatism) but my experience with Glasses Direct, even with my PD properly measured in person by an optician for glasses that are perfect, the placement of the centre of the lens just isn't quite right.  I bought sunglasses from them because Specsavers had nothing I liked enough to justify spending what they were asking for, and while the sunglasses are okay and do the job, and I don't get headaches from them, they're just not quite *right*. 

In contrast to my normal glasses (from Specsavers, but I'm sure the same would be true of any other in-person shop) which are absolutely perfect.  Usually when I've changed prescriptions in the past there's been a period of adjustment, but this time not at all, I put them on and BAM the world was instantly clear.

So this is not to put you off at all and I hope your GD glasses are fine, but if you don't see that they're any better than your standard shop-bought reading glasses, it could simply be because they're bought via internet and not fitted in person.

And as your prescription is rather less strong than mine, hopefully any not-quite-right aspects of the fitting wouldn't make any noticeable difference anyway.

Pollycat

VoucherMan said:

Lorian said:

As this is MSE I should point out that once you try prescription ones you probably won't revert to to cheap reading glasses.

Being something of an MSE, this is by biggest 'concern', but under the circumstances, I'd consider it money well spent.

Lorian said:

If you are buying cheap prescription glasses you will need to measure your pupil distance (Google) as it won't be on your prescription.

Still something of a learning curve for me. Earlier today I spotted the glasses direct deal, and I've ordered a couple of pairs from them for £39. I could have gone cheaper if I'd been concentrating properly, but I'm not complaining at that price, even if I don't like them much. It's still a lot more comfortable than the £178 that my local optician wanted, and that's only for one pair.

Regarding the PD, the website has a 'don't know' option, which defaults to 63mm, with a comment that they'll get in contact if necessary, so I'll wait & see (no pun intended!).

I have only started wearing glasses in the last 5 or so years (I'm 70). I'm longsighted and used cheap reading glasses until I decided my eyes needed proper glasses.
My prescription says:
R: +0.50
L: 0.00

I go to Specsavers.
In June 2023, I had:
I pair of Kylie Minogue reading glasses
I pair of Specsavers reading glasses with transition lenses
I pair of Specsavers prescription sunglasses (as I read outside during the summer).

The 3 pairs, together with a OCT scan, cost £206.

When you chose your frames did you take notice of the measurements?

I have a small head and need to choose frames that are not too wide and don't have too long arms.
Prior to my eye test, I spent some time narrowing down my choices of frames, based on the Specsavers website measurements.
I made a note of potential choices and after my eye test, I tried on my first choices and was happy that they fitted, were comfortable and suited me.

VoucherMan

Pollycat said:

When you chose your frames did you take notice of the measurements?

I don't know which measurements you're referring to, but as I don't recall noticing any, except the PD, I think I can safely say no.

Pollycat

VoucherMan said:

Pollycat said:

When you chose your frames did you take notice of the measurements?

I don't know which measurements you're referring to, but as I don't recall noticing any, except the PD, I think I can safely say no.

The website you bought from shows the same measurements as Specsavers.
If you scroll down and click on 'Frame info' it gives various measurements.
For example:
Taylor Glasses | Glasses Direct | Glasses Direct

These are important to me because I don't want frames that are too wide and too narrow on the depth because I don't like to see a lot of frame.
I want shorter arms too. 
I don't know about Glasses Direct but Specsavers do different arms length 

These wouldn't suit me because 33mm depth is too narrow. My newish, very comfortable reading glasses are 40mm.
The width of 56mm for each lens is too wide. Mine are 48mm.

Also my choices do need to be adjusted to fit me perfectly when I collect them.
This is why I'm happy to use Specsavers.

I hope your glasses fit but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be happy with choosing glasses without doing more research.

Eccles04

For those of you that live in the south west can I suggest a visit to Vision Savers in Exeter. Always get my varifocals from him for only £65 - £75 and he does frames dirt cheap too. He is not an optician so don't expect an eye test but of course at those prices he beats even specsavers by a country mile.