Seven Silent Signs You May Need Reading Glasses

The most obvious sign that you need reading glasses is blurry vision, but there are a number of other subtle signs that are usually neglected but could be an indication that you should get one.

You Fall Asleep At Your Computer
The muscles in the eyes work the hardest when you focus on close-up or detailed work, such as when reading or working on the computer. If you need glasses, those muscles work even harder to help you see clearly.

Due to the fact that it isn’t a natural position for the eyes to be in, they can get tired, which makes you feel sleepy. If reading glasses alone don’t help, try blinking more often or moving your computer farther away from you. This will keep your eyes more relaxed.

You Need Brighter Lights To Read
If the reading lamp you normally use doesn’t seem bright enough, and you can’t help but turn on another lamp or overhead light, you may require an aid to see properly.

This is even more obvious as you get older but it is an entirely normal condition. Studies show that the average 60-year-old needs at least three times the amount of light as a 20-year-old.

You Don’t Eat Green Vegetables
Carrots are not the only vegetables that are healthy for your eyes, as leafy greens and cabbage are equally as good.

These foods contain lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that help keep the  lenses of your eyes clear, reducing the risk for cataracts and your odds of needing glasses.

A serving of cabbage can have as much as 26.5 mg of lutein and zeaxanthin, depending on how it is prepared. One serving of carrots on the other hand has less than one milligram of both.

You See Halos
When your eyes cannot properly focus light into your retina, the light can become blurred or scattered. This may cause you to see bright circles appear around lights of various shapes and sizes, from light bulbs or car headlights.

This could be one of the signs you need glasses. However, halos are also a common symptom of cataracts, especially along with cloudy vision. If you see halos, you should see an optometrist as soon as possible.

The Distance With Which You Hold A Book Is Shortened Or Lengthened
The way you hold a book can be one of the most important signs that you need glasses. If you are near-sighted or can’t see far away, you will probably hold a book a out 12 inches or less toward your face.

If you’re far-sighted, you might need to hold the book at arm’s length. A rule to remember however is that if an object held 14 inches from your face is blurry, you may need some sort of corrective lens.

You Have Constant Headaches
Straining your eyes and working with few breaks can also make you more susceptible to headaches or make recurring headaches worse.

If the headache is right behind your eyes, it could be as a result of hyperopia (far-sightedness) or astigmatism (when objects look blurry at certain angles due to the cornea’s shape).

Both problems are signs you need glasses—and getting a pair can correct these issues. However, ensure that you take frequent breaks when doing work that can strain your eyes. Opticians and optometrists recommend the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

You’re older than 40
Once you are forty and above, you will most likely experience one or more of the symptoms mentioned earlier. Presbyopia is a condition where the eyes gradually lose their ability to focus on nearby objects (though it’s not the same as farsightedness).

Symptoms usually begin to appear in your early to mid-40s and can continue to worsen until your 60s. Luckily, this natural aging process has a simple solution—reading glasses.

Credit: 360Nobs