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If your vision begins to blur as you age, you may be suffering from a condition called presbyopia. It’s quite common, so there’s no need to panic. An easy way to get your focus back is by getting reading glasses and if you want a pair ASAP, we’ve found the best reading glasses online for durability and, of course, style.
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“The human lens grows like a little onion and adds layers, and right around the age of 40 it gets harder,” Dr. Viola Kanevsky, former president of the New York State Optometric Association, told CNET. “Even a person who has always had perfect vision suddenly needs reading glasses and starts to take things further.”
If presbyopia is your only vision problem, reading glasses can be a simple solution, according to American Academy of Ophthalmology. It’s important to have a thorough eye exam to make sure you don’t have other vision problems and to determine if your glasses have the right strength. Once you have your figures of power, you can easily buy reading glasses online and have the perfect pair delivered straight to your door.
Many online retailers sell reading glasses, but not all provide the best quality. After reviewing nearly a dozen sites, carefully considering customer reviews, product variety, and shipping policies, here are our top picks to help you buy the best reading glasses for your needs. Find out where to get the best readers and find the right pair for your face shape.
What are the best reading glasses overall?
GlassesUSA is our pick for the best overall reading glasses you can buy online, thanks to its well-rounded inventory, fair policies, and great customer reviews. GlassesUSA was also one of CNET’s picks for best glasses online and best prescription sunglasses.
The best reading glasses for 2024
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GlassesUSA offers nearly 200 frames as reading glasses. You can get lens power from +0.25 to +4 on each pair, which is one of the widest ranges of any brand we looked at. Even people with very weak or very strong farsightedness can get their readers here. There are many different styles to choose from, from traditional to bold. Frequent sales drop prices as low as $26 a pair. GlassesUSA also has other policies and benefits that make it a convenient retailer to shop from. These include virtual try-ons, free shipping, free returns or exchanges, and a one-year warranty.
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There is something to be said for buying reading glasses from a brand that is dedicated to that specific product. Readers.com offers little perks like an online “PowerFinder” to help you determine the best power for your eyes, and sells frames with +1 to +4 power to meet a wide range of vision needs. Site frames come in a variety of prices and styles (over 500). You can filter your search by shape, style and more.
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Peepers, a brand you might recognize from the shows or Oprah’s Favorite Things, is ideal for people who want a bolder or more creative look at a reasonable price. The brand keeps things simple: the selection isn’t huge, but it’s well curated, and every pair of glasses is priced exactly the same: $29 (before tax and all discounts). Virtual try-on is available and shipping is free on orders over $42. Powers range from +1 to +4.
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Pair Eyewear is unique in that each of its frames allows for multiple different looks – you can add magnetic accessories to the frames to achieve a new color or pattern. Any of the frames on Pair’s website can be made into reading glasses from +0.25 to +2.75 for the same price as a pair of prescription glasses. There are 15 basic frames for women and 11 basic frames for men to choose from and almost 500 top frames to switch per frame. CNET reporter Jessica Randall explained the process in detail in the her Pair Eyewear review.
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You can’t go wrong with an affordable pair of glasses from Zenni, with over 1,700 frames to choose from. The company now offers a line ready-made readers with powers from +0.50 to +2.75 starting at just $7. (If you need +0.25, you can also go the custom route.) The site offers a virtual try-on experience, and because the frames are so affordable, it’s easy to get several pairs for different occasions or stash in different locations. If you change your mind, return it within two weeks for a refund or within 30 days for store credit.
Warby Parker is a popular and well-known brand in the online eyewear world, and for good reason. His site makes it easy to shop for exactly the styles you’re interested in based on size, shape, color and more. You can try the frames virtually or even at home. All Warby Parker glasses are available as reading glasses with power from +0.25 to +2.75. The glasses start at $95 and come with free shipping and 30-day returns.
| Company | Powers | Delivery | Return | Warranty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GlassesUSA | +.25 to +4 | Free Standard Shipping; $20 for the next day | 14 days | 1 year | 24 to over $400 |
| Warby Parker | +.25 to +2.75 | Free Standard Shipping; $25 plus tax for expedited | 30 days | Six-month scratch-free warranty | $95 to $295+ |
| Zenni | +.25 to +2.75 | $5 shipping; $19 fast shipping | 2 weeks for refund or 30 days for store credit | 30 days | 7 to 430 dollars |
| Readers.com | 1 to 7 | Free First Class Shipping over $35; $13+ for Priority Express or Next Day | 90 days | 90 days | 13 to over $44 |
| Peepers | +1 to +4 | Free Standard Shipping over $42; $9 for Priority Mail | 90 days | None | $29 |
| Pair of Eyewear | +.25 to +2.75 | Free standard; $15 for Priority or faster | 30 days | 30 days | $60 and up |
- strength: Powers of reading glasses tend to range from +0.25 to +2.50 diopters (the unit of power used by eyeglass prescriptions), although the average starting power seems to be around +0.75. It is important to see an eye doctor to find the power that it works for your eyes. You may need a stronger pair as you get older, or you may want bifocals or progressives if you need vision correction for both distance and nearsightedness.
- Style: Expressing your style is one of the main benefits of wearing glasses. Find the ideal shapewidth, material and color. Don’t be afraid to change things up.
- Price: Reading glasses can be quite affordable because they don’t have to be custom made like prescription glasses. However, designer reading glasses will cost more, with prices starting at $150 and up. If you tend to lose your glasses or want to keep multiple pairs on hand, you may be better off sticking with lower priced options.
- Upgrades: Consider whether you need lens treatments such as blue light filters, polarization or anti-reflective coatings.
- Shipping and Returns: If you decide on a pair online, you likely won’t be able to try them on in person, which is why it’s more important to use a company with timely delivery and an easy way to return or exchange.
- Selection: We looked not only at the number of different frames but also at the range of colors, shapes, materials and so on. Basically, how likely is it that a number of people will be able to find a pair they like in this store?
- Shipping Policy: We’ve looked at whether free shipping is available, how long that delivery takes, and how much it costs to upgrade to faster shipping. We’ve also looked at warranties and return policies.
- Customer satisfaction and reviews: We took into account the experiences of other CNET editors as well as customer reviews online.
- Price range: We looked at the average price of a pair of frames, as well as the lowest and highest price, to find the best reading glasses for different reader budgets.
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How do I know what power of reading glasses to get?
Are cheap reading glasses okay?
