In brief, here are 6 signs you may need reading glasses

1. You see halos
2. You get headaches when you read or use the computer
3. You’re turning the light up brighter and brighter to read
4. You crave kale and other green veggies
5. Reading makes you sleepy
6. You have to hold writing farther away from your eyes to read it comfortably

Like it or not, aging changes to your eyes

If you are older than 40, you will most likely notice changes in your vision. Like many muscles in our bodies, our eyes begin to get less flexible, especially the internal lenses, creating a condition called presbyopia. This makes it difficult to focus the eyes as they transition from far vision to near vision; therefore, text becomes blurry and your eyes start to strain. This probably means it’s time to invest in a pair of reading glasses.

If you want to get a better idea as to what the signs are that reading glasses are in order, here are some things professionals say to be aware of. If you find yourself affirming these symptoms, it’s definitely time to take them up.

Do you see halos?

While it may be a pretty visual occurrence, halos or glowing circles around headlights, light bulbs, or other light sources, are a result of light not properly getting focused into the retina.

Do you get headaches when reading or using the computer?

Eye strain from forcing your eyes to focus can cause headaches, and if these headaches are getting more frequent as you age and are directly related to reading, it is likely a sign of presbyopia.

The location of the headache is also important, as this can indicate what the headache is caused by. For instance, headaches in the temples are more often related to lack of sleep, alcohol hangovers, etc. Headaches between or behind your eyes are more likely due to eye strain. One small trick that can help is to focus your eye at least 20 feet from where you are for at least 20 seconds, once every 20 minutes. This is called the 20/20/20 rule.

Are you turning up the light to read?

If you’ve been able to read by night stand lamplight alone for years but lately the light doesn’t seem to be enough, you may want to replace the light bulb. But if the light isn’t going dim and you still have the same problem, this is one common sign of presbyopia. This being said, as we age, the light we need in order to see clearly substantially increases. Someone in their 60s will likely need around 3 times the amount of light someone in their twenties requires.

Are you craving kale and other green veggies?

You may have heard about the Vitamin A in carrots being good for eyesight, but this actually applies to a wide range of vegetables. Leafy greens, for example, have major optical benefits associated with them, mostly because of the healthy doses of zeaxanthin and lutein they supplement you with. They are also jam-packed with antioxidants, which keep the eyes’ lenses clear and reduce the risk of cataracts as well as the need for glasses.

Does reading makes you sleepy?

We don’t mean reading in bed, which, in moderation can be a great way to get the body ready for a good night’s sleep, but rather instances in which you find yourself tired during the day or while working at your computer. If you do experience this, it could be related to any number of causes, from diet to eye strain, but cutting eyestrain out of the picture never hurts. Focusing on up-close images all the time is hard work for the eyes, and if you have developed presbyopia this is probably even more likely.

Are you holding that book at arm’s length?

Because our eye muscles after 40 are less resilient, but our arms are holding up just fine, we use them, right? If you find that your arms are just not quite long enough to take the strain off your eyes, then, yes, you’re probably going to be needing to shop for reading glasses. If you’re new to shopping for reading glasses, don’t fret. We provide a complete beginner’s guide to getting you started so you can choose from a selection of personally ideal pairs.

How many questions did you answer “Yes” to?

If you have answered “yes” to two or more of these questions, the time has most likely come to invest in a pair of reading glasses. Luckily, we have a broad selection of fashionable, quality reading glasses that are still not too hard on the wallet.