You know them by many names….

Cheaters, Over the counter reading glasses, drug store reading glasses, magnifier glasses, ready made reading glasses, dollar glasses….  But the real question is should you wear them or not.  I’m going to answer that for you right now.

Alright let’s get at it…after this video you will know everything you need to know about over the counter reading glasses.

Terms you need to know that I won’t explain in this video.   Presbyopia. And Single vision glasse

So let me tell you what I mean by over the counter readers?

These are single vision reading glasses designed for you if you have all three of the following.

1. You have presbyopia or the loss of your focusing
2. You do not need glasses to help them see in the distance.
3. and both your eyes are about the same power.

IF that is you…these could work for you.

What’s the difference between your OTC readers and your prescription?

1. The style of your frame; When you purchase your prescription single vision glasses you have un unending range of style of frames.  When you choose otc you are limited to a few options and in many cases they don’t tend to be that stylish.
2. The quality of your Frame: OTC reading glasses are inexpensive and they are because they are mass produced from the most inexpensive materials that can be found.  One of the interesting things I find in my clinic is when we have newer staff members that start handing, adjusting and repairing frames….and in a few days they can already tell the difference between how a quality frame stands up compared to an inexpensive frame.
3. Fit of the Frame. If you have ever shopped for eyeglasses one thing you will learn after trying on a couple of frames…is that you will find some frames fit better than others.  OTC readers usually don’t give you many options in sizes
4. Quality of lens optics. You will find that OTC readers will often have distortions in different part of the lens.  This is can give you some eyestrain and eye fatigue.
5. Quality of lens coating: You will notice OTC readers scratch easier and are harder to keep clean.  This is because OTC often don’t have any scratch or antireflection coating and if they do they will be the least expensive option available.
6. Material of lens. There are different materials that eye glasses lenses can be produced from. And every eyeglass material has an ABBE number which describes how much light is separated as it passes through the lens.   OTC reading glasses will often use a material called polycarbonate with has the worst abbe number and can cause of sharpness.
7. Centration of lenses. You have probably heard about your pupillary distance….this is the distance between the center of your pupils and it should line up with the optical center of the lens. If it doesn’t it will induce some prismatic distortion in the lens and will give you eyestrain.
8. Accuracy of prescription. OTC reading glasses are mass produced and as a result you will get some variation in production.  Your OTC reading glasses are not verified individually and so you sometimes will find that the power that is listed on them is not the actual power of the lens.
9. Insurance coverage. If you have vision insurance coverage that contributes to the cost of your eyeglases….you cannot use your insurance to purchase otc reading glasses.

So next I’ve got some FAQ that you will need to hear, but if you are new to our channel make sure you subsribe so you won’t miss out on more videos about your eyes and vision.   And make sure you leave a comment below on if you wear prescription or otc reading glases.

Will over the counter reading glasses harm your eyesight?

One thing I can reassure you is that non-prescription reading glasses will not harm your eyes or make your vision worse.   However. because of all the differences I just listed you may find that your eyes get more fatigued, you get more eyestrain or you get frustrated with how they fit and feel on your face.   But other than giving you symptoms…they will not damage your eyes.

Can you put new lenses in the your over the counter reading glasses?

So you have a pair of ready made reading glasses and you like the frame and you wondering if you can get you optometrist to put new lenses in your frame.   The answer is no. and here are the reasons why

1. You get old lenses out without damaging the frame. Lenses are often glued in
2. Prescription frames have a groove on the inside of the frame that holds the lens in place. In over the count readers this groove often does not exist or is so shallow it will not hold the lens
3. Inserting and removing lenses in a frame can be stressful on a frame…and most otc readers are not made from durable enough materials.. and will often break.

So are over the counter reading glasses a good option for you?

These can be a great option for you.

1. You need some emergency glasses.   Ready made reading glasses are a great option for you if you have lost or broken your prescription glasses.   They will not harm your eyes and they will provide you with better vision than if you didn’t have them.
2. You want Disposable glasses. If your job is hard on glasses or if you tend to lose or break your glasses this is a good option for you.  You can buy a bunch of different pairs and have lots of backups.

Okay so are over the counter readers a bad option for you?

Here are two reasons why are not the best options for you.

1. Your Image matters. If you have a job where first impressions and your image is important…you probably want to invest in a prescription pair of eye glasses to help maintain that image.
2. You do lots of computer work or reading. If you spend a lot of time working up close…you do everything you can to reduce your eyestrain and eyefatigue…and this means you should invest in yourself and make sure you have exactly the right pair of prescription reading glasses.

So if you are getting yourself some ready made reading glasses the thing you need to know exactly what strength you should get.  And for that make sure you watch my next video coming up on HOW TO PICK YOUR READING GLASSES STRENGTH.

Where can you purchase over the counter reading glasses in Winnipeg.  We have some at our clinic, Waverley Eye Care Center or you could also visit our online store at Eye Canada and shop for reading glasses

Michael Nelson, OD

Optometrist at Waverley Eye Care Cantre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada