This article sponsored by Design Optics.
Design Optics reading glasses are designed
and distributed by StyleMark, a uniquely
diversified marketer of sunglasses, reading
glasses and optical frames. StyleMark is
the world’s largest producer of sunglasses
and the world’s second-largest producer of
reading glasses. The company has successfully pursued a multibrand, multichannel
distribution model, enabling it to provide
an exceptionally broad range of licensed,
proprietary and private-label brands.
When to obtain
reading glasses
AS WE AGE, OUR EYES’ ability to focus at close distances tends to diminish.
While many joke that their arms are growing shorter, it’s a real medical condition and may necessitate a change in lifestyle.
The condition is known as presbyopia, which is caused by a loss of elasticity of the lens and becomes especially apparent in middle age. The result is
an inability to focus sharply for near vision. This can make it difficult to read
magazines, packaging labels and
Crystalline Lens
books, and can lead to headaches,
eyestrain and a feeling of fatigue
when performing close-up work,
such as needlepoint, embroidery
or craftwork. In other words, it’s
time for reading glasses.
The eye’s lens stiffens with
age, so it is less able to focus when Sclera
you view something up close. The Iris
result is blurred near vision. The eye undergoes natural changes as we
It’s always best to have your age. One change is a loss of elasticity of the
lens, shown here. The result: blurry vision.
eyes checked by an eye-care pro-
fessional, such as those in Costco’s Optical Department, but a general rule
of thumb is that if you see well at a distance without glasses, you might only
need over-the-counter reading glasses to overcome presbyopia.
These come in different powers from + 1. 25 to + 2. 75. One way to choose
is to hold a newspaper or magazine at the distance at which you want to read.
(Many reading-glasses displays, including the ones at Costco, offer testers that
incorporate lenses and stationary text.) Choose the reading
glasses that give you clear vision at the distance tested.
Weaker glasses (+ 1. 25) allow you to read
farther from your eyes, while stronger glasses
(+ 2. 75) allow clear vision when the reading
material is closer to your eyes. Glasses are
correct prescriptions only for the distance
at which they allow clear vision.
The type chosen should depend
on the task at hand— i.e., weaker for
computer work or stronger for reading
a newspaper or magazine. Eye-care
professionals recommend that reading
glasses be worn only for reading. Leaving them on full-time may blur distance
vision over time. A
