Our vision changes over time which is why maintaining your eyesight is vitally important. But when do you need reading glasses? How do you know when it’s time for you to start wearing glasses? In this article, we take a look at the signs (some of which are quite sneaky) which let you know that your vision needs a little help.
Important Reasons Why You Need Reading Glasses
-
Frequently Squinting
If you constantly find yourself squinting at words or images, it could be a sign that you need to start wearing glasses. By squinting, you are trying to reduce the amount of light that enters the eye in order to reduce the size and blurriness of an image or text.
While this is an effective temporary fix, it does very little to compensate for either nearsightedness (poor vision far away) or farsightedness (poor vision close up). It’s also important to note that when children squint, it could be a sign of ‘lazy eye’, a condition where vision is decreased resulting from abnormal vision development during infancy or early childhood.
-
Eye Fatigue or Strain
There are many different factors that can contribute to eye pain or strain, such as not getting the right amount of sleep, allergies, colds, or flu. However, if eye pain doesn’t go away after a few days, or if you feel pain with the movement of the eye, or even if your eyes feel tired from simple, regular activities, such as watching TV, reading, etc., then you know it’s time to get them checked out.
One of the causes of such symptoms could be an eye infection, and it’s in your best interest to get that checked out as soon as possible. You also want to be able to determine if your eye fatigue is caused by vision changes or undiagnosed health conditions.
-
Blurred Vision
This is yet another symptom that can signal nearsightedness or farsightedness. For adults, you may notice that when you read, look at the computer, or drive, your vision sometimes gets blurry. This is one of the many things that signal a possible need for reading glasses.
-
Frequent Headaches
If you suffer from headaches on a frequent basis, it could mean that you have vision problems. According to the AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology), a condition known as astigmatism or farsightedness may be the cause of your headaches. This eye disorder causes both distant and close objects to appear very blurry and as your eyes try harder to focus better, the strain leads to constant headaches.
-
Seeing Halos around Lights
When your eyes fail to focus light correctly, the light can become blurry or ‘scattered’ which is why you may sometimes see halos around car headlights, lightbulbs, and various other types of lights. This happens with lights of all shapes and sizes, and although halos are a common symptom of cataracts, sometimes it’s possible to fix the problem with glasses.
-
Rubbing Your Eyes
If you find yourself constantly rubbing your eyes, it may be because you have eye strain or eye fatigue. If that is the case, glasses can help reduce the need for rubbing your eyes. It’s possible that you may be suffering from a medical issue such as allergic conjunctivitis – a pink eye that is caused by allergies or an infection.
For this reason, it’s important to ensure that you get itchy eyes checked out by a qualified eye care professional.
-
Reading Books at Odd Positions
If you find yourself holding your book at arm’s length or right near your face, it could be a sign that it’s time for reading glasses. The way you hold books, menus, or anything else to read text shows a lot about whether or not you have problems with your vision.
Nearsighted people may put the book right near their face while farsighted individuals are likely to hold it at arm’s length. The majority of people experience presbyopia or farsightedness as they age, typically beginning in their 40s. Reading glasses can be of significant help to such individuals.
-
Covering or Closing One Eye to Read or Watch TV
If you find yourself doing that, it could mean that you’re covering or closing the ‘bad’ eye to prevent it from getting in the way of you seeing properly. This is typically a sign of astigmatism or lazy eye. It could also mean that you have double vision or a cataract caused by strabismus.
-
Poor Vision at Night
There are many different factors that could cause trouble seeing at night, such as taking certain medications which cause night vision problems, or cataracts, and so on. If you have trouble seeing after dark, glasses could help if your problem is nearsightedness.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that there are a lot of possible reasons why you might need reading glasses. However, instead of simply guessing from whatever symptoms you are experiencing, it’s always a good idea to have a professional take a look so you can get the best reading glasses for your needs.