The Benefits of Reader Sunglasses

Everyone loves a nice sunny day by the pool — especially with a good book or magazine to read as you soak up the rays. But if you need reading glasses, shading your eyes from the sun and flipping through the pages might pose a challenge.

That’s where sunglasses with readers come in. Reading sunglasses are perfect for people who love to indulge in outdoor activities, but need a little help seeing things up close. And there are several types to choose from, including sunglasses with progressive lenses and bifocal reading sunglasses.

Benefits of Reading Sunglasses

Sometime after age 40, it’s normal to start losing the ability to focus on up-close objects. This is called presbyopia. Even if you’ve never needed glasses before, the aging process eventually affects your vision, making it difficult to see things up close without aid.

Presbyopia can be frustrating, especially if you spend a lot of time reading, writing or answering emails. And if you’re outside when you need to work on any of these things, the brightness can make things even more difficult. So how do you solve two problems at once?

With reading sunglasses, you get the best of both worlds: ultraviolet (UV) protection and visual clarity when looking at nearby objects. Here are some other benefits you can look forward to when picking up a new pair of reading sunglasses:

• They’re easy to find online and at many brick-and-mortar retailers.
• They’re affordable — prices typically range from $5 to $35.
• They come in a variety of styles to fit any personality.
• They’re available in a wide range of magnification powers (and you don’t need a prescription for a pair with standard magnification).
• There are many lens types to choose from, including bifocals and progressives.

Types of Reading Sunglasses

Bifocal

If you only need vision correction for presbyopia, bifocal reader sunglasses may be perfect for you. The top half of each lens is unmagnified, so you can see things far away as you would normally. The bottom part is magnified to the power of your choice, allowing you to see up-close objects clearly too.

This over-the-counter combination is great for those who attend outdoor sporting events. They shade your eyes, allow you to see the game and your phone or program at the same time. They’re also ideal for gardeners and anyone who loves an outdoor project.

Full-Lens

Full-lens reading sunglasses feature the same magnification power throughout the entirety of each lens. But they only aid your vision for reading up close, so you may need to take them off to see distant objects clearly.

Maybe you enjoy reading on the patio, or perhaps you like to work outside on sunny days. If so, it’s worth it to give full-lens reading sunglasses a try.

Polarized

When the sun shines on reflective surfaces, like water or pavement, it creates a glare. Polarized lenses are specially designed to reduce this glare from your line of vision. And

These useful features make it much easier (and more comfortable) to flip through your favorite magazine on the beach.

Progressive

Reading sunglasses with progressive lenses offer multiple powers to help you see clearly at several distances in the same lens. While there are two distinct “magnification zones” in bifocal lenses, the power in a progressive lens changes gradually across the surface of the lens for a seamless look.

After you acclimate to wearing progressive reading sunglasses, they can help you see at any distance with minimal effort. You won’t have to remove them to look at things far away and then put them back on to read.

You’ll need a prescription to get a pair of progressive sun readers, so ask your eye doctor about your options.

Which Type Is Right for You?

What kind will you get? Full-lens reading sunglasses, sun readers with polarized lenses or a pair with prescription progressives?

Whatever you choose, you’ll have the freedom to enjoy your favorite up-close activities outside, all while protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays.

Speak with your eye doctor or optician if you have any questions about sunglasses with readers, especially if you may need a prescription for your perfect pair.