Reading glasses (also called “readers”) are non-prescription eyewear with magnifying lenses to correct presbyopia, an age-related difficulty focusing on close-up objects like books, phones, or labels. They add magnification (typically +1.00 to +3.50 diopters) for near vision only.
Main types:
Full readers (single-vision): Uniform magnification across the entire lens.
Half readers (half-moon): Lower half magnified; look over for distance.
Bifocal readers: Two zones (distance top, magnified bottom) with a visible line.
Progressive readers: Seamless, gradual magnification shift (no lines).
Task-specific (e.g., computer readers): Optimized for intermediate distances like screens.
