Are you asking yourself "what strength reading glasses do I need?". It happens to everyone — fine text becomes blurry and you find yourself holding menus farther and farther away to be able to see. You, like millions of others, are likely developing presbyopia and need reading glasses. If you're hesitant about whether or not you should start wearing readers, here are a few other reading glasses indicators that might convince you.
We've made it easy to figure out your reading magnification, also referred to as your reading power, if you're new to reading glasses and aren't sure where to start.
Diopter test charts have rows of words ranging in text size that correspond to reading glasses strengths. If you're purchasing reading glasses online, you can use our printable diopter chart below. With the printed sheet 14" away, attempt to read the top line without reading glasses. Continue down the chart until you find a line you can read clearly without your glasses on – this is the diopter (power/magnification) you need.
Tip: Make sure to remove your glasses when you use the diopter test. If you have different vision needs in your right and left eye, simply cover up one eye at a time to test each eye individually.
Click to download printable diopter chart
You'll notice that the diopter chart only goes up to a +3.25 magnification. We have found that our printable chart is a helpful tool to aid in finding your power up to the +3.25 strength. If you believe that your reading power is higher than a +3.25, we recommend contacting your local eye doctor for assistance find the correct power for your needs.
Need to see an eyecare professional? Find an eye doctor ›
Prescriptions for reading glasses increase by 0.25 diopters, such as +1.00, +1.25, +1.50, and so on. However, for simplicity, some diopter charts may increase by 0.50 or by the whole number. Start by trying on reading glasses in the power that your test results yielded. If you're trying on glasses at a retailer, you'll want to test out several pairs that are both weaker and stronger than your test results. Narrow it down to two magnifications — both of which you see well with — and always choose the lower of the two powers.
At Readers.com, you'll find readers in the following magnifications:
Shop all our available powers:
+1.00
+1.25
+1.50
+1.75
+2.00
+2.25
+2.50
+2.75
+3.00
+3.25
+3.50
+3.75
Are you looking for something more specific? Maybe you're in need of computer glasses, reading sunglasses, customizable readers, or high powered reading glasses but aren't having any luck at the dollar or drug stores. All of these and more can be found at Readers.com!
Disclaimer: Our options to find your reading power are general in nature. They are by no means an exact science or a substitute for receiving annual vision exams from a license eyecare professional. View our full disclaimer.
