These Stylish, Doctor-Approved Reading Glasses Can Help Reduce Eye Strain

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If you’ve ever experienced eye strain, blurred vision, or headaches while reading, then you may be in need of a pair of reading glasses—and you wouldn’t be the only one. In fact, as many as 34.5 million Americans wear over-the-counter reading glasses, according to the Vision Council. Luckily, reading glasses are easy to get practically anywhere—and they come in so many stylish options to choose from, too.

But first: What are reading glasses, exactly, and how do they work? These special types of glasses are magnifiers, meaning they help people see things (most often text) up close, explains Tal Raviv, M.D., founder and medical director of Eye Center of New York. Although they’re available in both over-the-counter and prescription forms, they’re often used by people who haven’t previously needed eyeglasses.

Meet the Experts: Caroline Cho, O.D., optometrist at DuPage Optical and Johnson & Johnson Vision consultant, Diane Hilal-Campo, M.D., board-certified ophthalmologist and founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty, Tal Raviv, M.D., founder and medical director of Eye Center of New York, Jennifer Tsai, O.D., board-certified optometrist and founder of Line of Sight.

There are an “infinite number” of ways to get your hands on readers, which usually range from +1 to +2.75 magnification, Dr. Raviv says. While many people buy over-the-counter reading glasses without visiting an eye doctor, it is important to regularly visit an ophthalmologist to ensure your eyes are healthy and aging normally, notes Diane Hilal-Campo, M.D., board-certified ophthalmologist and founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty.

Once you determine that you’re in need of reading glasses, the next step is to find a pair that’s right for you—but that can involve a lot of challenging factors, including having to pick out eyeglass frames in a style you like and choosing the right prescriptions for your eyes. To help you out, we’ve gathered some of the most top-rated and expert-approved picks for reading glasses right here—including options in a variety of price points, styles, and features.

Ahead, find top picks for stylish, functional reading glasses that start at just $3 per pair.

Notting Hill Glasses

From Zoom meetings to coffee shops, you’re guaranteed to rack up compliments in these flattering frames. Just as charming as their namesake neighborhood (and romantic comedy), this top-rated pair of reading glasses checks all the boxes. Available as simple readers, bifocals, and progressives (with the option of customizing each lens’ magnification), they look great on practically everyone, are shockingly affordable, and come in four color options (including clear). And, they’ve earned a stellar average 4.9-star rating, with reviewers raving about the great fit, look, and feel.

Reading Glasses (5 Pairs)

Reading glasses don’t need to cost an arm and a leg, Dr. Raviv says. For just over $15, you can get five pairs of these beloved readers—which means they clock in at only around $3 per pair. You can leave one on your desk, drawer, purse, and car console (or just have back-ups if you’re always losing or misplacing your glasses!). These glasses boast an impressive range of magnifications—not to mention, over a whopping 35,000 five-star ratings on Amazon.

The Actor Bifocal Reading Glasses

If you want to be able to look up and see things clearly in the distance without removing your readers, bifocals are a great option. They allow you to magnify using only the bottom portion of your lenses, meaning you can add a different magnification or prescription above. This stylish pair features scratch-resistant bifocal lenses within a durable, round frame shape, and come in three chic colorways to choose from.

Esme Glasses

These fashionable glasses from Warby Parker come in three different width options—narrow, medium, and wide—to ensure the best fit for any face shape and size. The durable lenses aren’t just anti-reflective and scratch-resistant, they also block UV rays, too! You can choose from three different colors, and also opt for progressive, blue-light-filtering, and anti-fatigue lenses. And did we mention that the brand offers a “Home Try-On” trial period, where you can try five frames for free before buying your favorite?

Conan Glasses

Dr. Raviv is impressed by Foster Grant’s Multi Focus technology, which offers three magnification strengths in one pair: One for interacting with people at the top, one for using the computer in the middle, and one for reading at the bottom. Although they’re ideal for the office, they can come in handy just about anywhere, and they’re much more affordable than their specs would suggest.

Percey Glasses

You could pick pretty much any pair of Warby Parker’s ever-popular frames and look great, but we especially love the chic, modern style of the Percey glasses. They boast impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses with an anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coating, and are available in nine colorways as well as different width options (medium and wide). Plus, you can opt for progressive lenses, blue-light-filtering, and anti-fatigue lenses, too.

Grandview Glasses

Hoping to make a statement with your eyewear? These blue-light-blocking readers from Peepers—a brand that Oprah previously touted in her annual Favorite Things list—refuse to blend into the background, but they aren’t too loud to wear on a daily basis, either. They might even help you sleep better, too, thanks to their blue-light-blocking features. They’re designed with spring hinges for a comfortable fit, and also have thin, lightweight lenses with anti-scratch and anti-reflective coating.

Retro Oversized Reading Glasses

These statement reading glasses feature stylish Oprah-like vibes with their retro, oversized look—and they come in at an affordable price of under $15. They block blue light with impact-resistant polycarbonate lens, and are available in multiple colorways, from a classic, solid black to chic tortoise designs. And, you can grab them as a single pair or a pack of three. Not bad for a budget-friendly pick!

Reading Glasses (4 Pairs)

Coming in a great value pack of four pairs (they’re also available in a pack of two or three), these comfy, affordable glasses are meant to be kept anywhere you find yourself reaching for readers, from a coffee table to a jacket pocket. Because of their thin, narrow frames, you can treat these readers almost like bifocals—if you have otherwise-fine eyesight, they’re easy to peer over. They also come in a wide range of strengths as well as multiple colorways to choose from.

Botanist Glasses

These popular frames come in a classic, flattering rectangular shape that complements a wide variety of face shapes—along with subtle stylish studs on the hinges. They’re lightweight and comfy for everyday wear, and feature anti-scratch coating on the lenses. Available in five different colorways, these glasses also come with a 14-day, no-questions-asked return policy.

St Michel Reading Glasses

Though plastic frames are typically a popular choice for readers, metal glasses are also a great option—in fact, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) notes that metal frames are more durable than plastic. This popular pair from Eyebuydirect (it has an impressive 4.9 rating with over 2,000 ratings!) features a metal frame with a classic, streamlined design, and also come in a wide range of magnifications and color options.

Alejandra SunReaders

Looking for a pair of fashionable glasses to wear while digging into a beach read? These genius sunglasses-meet-readers protect your eyes from UVA and UVB light (with UV 400), making them ideal for reading outdoors in the sun. Designed in collaboration with Sofia Vergara, they feature an oversized square-shaped design for a stylish look, and are made with scratch- and impact-resistant lenses to stand up to consistent use.

How to choose the best reading glasses

✔️ Be ready for trial and error. If you’re new to readers, it’s perfectly normal to have to try a few strengths before finding the magnification that’s right for you, Dr. Raviv says. He recommends starting with a +1 pair and moving up (or down) until it feels right. The best way to figure it out, though, is with an eye exam, “just to make sure we’re not missing something,” he explains.

✔️ Balance affordability with durability. “You can get readers literally at the dollar store, and they work fine,” Dr. Raviv explains, but they’re most likely made of plastic, and they might not hold up as long as pricier ones. “Poorly made lenses can cause you to have a distorted view through the lens,” says Dr. Hilal-Campo. So if you want to invest in a quality pair, it’s best to buy them from a credible glasses vendor; your ophthalmologist or optometrist can help, she says. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends opting for metal frames and lenses with anti-scratch, anti-reflective, and UV-protective coatings, which come with higher price tags.

✔️ Consider your lenses. Most readers have one magnification level for the entire lens. You can also consider bifocals, which combine eyeglasses (taking up the top part of the lenses) with reading glasses (making up the bottom sliver of the lenses)—these mitigate the need for multiple pairs of glasses. Although Dr. Raviv says basically any shape will work, half-size lenses are best for people without other vision problems, while larger lenses allow room for bifocal prescriptions, the AAO notes.

✔️ Look for warranty and return policies. Some companies offer some version of a return policy and, in some cases, a warranty. If you want to make sure that you can return your readers if they aren’t up to snuff on delivery, check to make sure the company has a policy in place that will help you feel confident about your purchase.

How to know if you need reading glasses

Around age 40 or 50, says Dr. Raviv, an age-related condition called presbyopia begins to affect many of us, preventing our natural lenses from focusing up close. Presbyopia occurs when the eyes’ natural lenses become less flexible, making it harder to switch focus from near to far vision, explains Dr. Hilal-Campo.

“You’ll know that you need reading glasses if you’re, well, having trouble reading, whether you’re looking at the newspaper or your digital devices. You might be holding your reading materials further away in order to see them. You also might get a headache from the strain caused by trying to effectively see your book or phone,” explains Dr. Hilal-Campo. Anyone with presbyopia can benefit from reading glasses, she says.

Do you need a prescription to wear reading glasses?

Reading glasses are made without customization, says Jennifer Tsai, O.D., board-certified optometrist and founder of LINE OF SIGHT. “This means it does not take into consideration the difference in correction between both eyes or astigmatism.” This is why it’s important to see an eye care professional to be prescribed the proper prescription to prevent headaches or eye strain, she notes.

When reading glasses are made to your unique prescription and measured for your eyes, the quality of vision is far superior compared to OTC reading glasses, adds Caroline Cho, O.D., optometrist at DuPage Optical and Johnson & Johnson Vision consultant. “OTC reading glasses are not recommended for long-term use.”

Prescription glasses bought from an optical shop will also be sturdier and better made than over the counter magnifiers, says Dr. Hilal-Campo. “Most people feel that investing in at least one pair of good prescription glasses is worth it.

How often should you wear reading glasses?

It depends on the person’s vision needs but if you have presbyopia, you would typically wear reading glasses whenever you’re doing close-up tasks such as reading or working on computers, says Dr. Tsai. “Wearing reading glasses helps you see clearly and comfortably up close, but you certainly don’t have to wear it all the time if not needed!”

Reading glasses should also be used every time you read your phone, books, magazine, or newspaper to prevent eye strain, says Dr. Cho. “This strain can cause headaches and blurred vision.”

How we chose the best reading glasses

We consulted experts Caroline Cho, O.D., optometrist at DuPage Optical and Johnson & Johnson Vision consultant, Diane Hilal-Campo, M.D., board-certified ophthalmologist and founder of twenty/twenty beauty, Tal Raviv, M.D., founder and medical director of Eye Center of New York, and Jennifer Tsai, O.D., board-certified optometrist and founder of LINE OF SIGHT, referenced The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), conducted our own research, and sifted through hundreds of online reviews to find the best reading glasses available.

Why trust us

For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Additionally, Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.

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