Ready to Wear Reading Glasses

READY TO WEAR READING GLASSES

The RANZCO endorses the following statement issued by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Ready to wear reading glasses, containing low-power plus sphere lenses, are widely available for non-prescription, over-the-counter purchase. The glasses have been manufactured since the 1800s and are currently available with either glass or plastic lenses in a wide variety of styles and optical powers. The lenses in the ready-to-wear glasses should meet the same impact resistance requirements as prescription spectacle lenses, and most such glasses also meet or exceed applicable ANSI standards2 for spectacle lenses and frames. The glasses generally cost from 6 to 18 dollars. This is in contrast to 25 to 200 dollars for comparable custom-fabricated reading glasses. Some opticians carry the ready-to-wear glasses as a convenience to their customers.

Plus sphere reading glasses compensate for the loss of accommodation (focusing ability) that typically becomes symptomatic in the early 40s and part of the normal aging process. This loss of focusing ability, termed presbyopia, is not considered a disease or even a refractive error, but rather is a universal accompaniment of aging. Presbyopia per se is not associated with ocular disease. If customary, good near vision is restored by self-selected, ready-to-wear reading glasses, there is no reason to suspect that an underlying disease process is being missed.

Ready-to-wear reading glasses are safe in that they cannot damage the eyes physically, whether or not they are the optimal strength, or whether they are used correctly or incorrectly. Temporary "eyestrain" may occur in some cases, but this is not damaging to the eyes and is relieved by discontinuing the glasses. If a significant refractive error is presented in addition to presbyopia, ready-to-wear reading glasses will not provide acceptable near vision and will simply not be purchased or worn.

There is a concern among some eye care professionals that the over-the-counter availability of ready-to-wear reading glasses may have adverse public health consequences. They are concerned that patients may seek eye examinations less frequently, resulting in delayed detection of early, asymptomatic ocular disease such as glaucoma and diabetic eye disease. According to market surveys, however, purchasers of ready-to-wear reading glasses were found to be no less likely to forego eye examinations than purchasers of custom-fabricated (prescription-ground) reading glasses. Indeed, it has been argued that the availability of inexpensive reading glasses makes more funds available for routine eye examinations.

In summary, ready-to-wear reading glasses are effective, safe, and economical. Self-selection and over-the-counter purchase of theses glasses appear to be medically acceptable, cost-effective, and in the best overall interest of the public.