It can be frustrating when you can no longer read small print or make out fine details like you once did. One option would be to go down to your local department or drug store and pick up a pair of reading glasses, but this isn’t really the best choice for a number of reasons. For reading glasses in Knoxville, your best choice is to visit our eye care center in Hardin Valley.
Reading glasses from an optometrist ensures that you get the right fit for your frames. It also guarantees that issues such as astigmatism and eyes with different prescriptions are treated correctly, and that you receive a comprehensive eye exam. Reading glasses are common as you get older due to presbyopia, the hardening of the eye’s lens.
Reading Glasses in Knoxville — Why Going to the Optometrist is the Best Choice
Get the Right Fit
Buying reading glasses from the drugstore is a lot like when you buy a bag of socks. Sure, they may last you a long time, but their one-size-fits-all approach can be more trouble than they’re worth. In the same way that socks can be too big or too small, reading glasses may not take your comprehensive eye health into consideration.
This is especially true if you have:
- Astigmatism
- A different prescription in each eye
- Eyes that are closer together or further apart than average
Astigmatism causes light to bend in more than one direction leading to issues such as blurry or wavy distance vision. It’s a common problem that is easily treated with prescription lenses, whether it’s prescription glasses or contact lenses. Unfortunately, reading glasses aren’t designed to treat astigmatism, meaning you’ll still need prescription eyewear for the clearest vision.
It’s also possible to have a different prescription in each eye. This means that you would need reading glasses that are adjusted to strengthen both eyes in order to see clearly. While reading glasses can help magnify your vision to see smaller print more clearly, they can’t be adjusted to support the needs of both eyes. You also can’t purchase reading glasses over the counter at your local drugstore that can accommodate different prescriptions in each eye.
Eyes that are closer together or further apart than average are another common problem. The distance between eyes can vary from person to person, making it difficult to find the right fit. This means that you may find a pair of reading glasses that help you see smaller details more easily, but they can also cause eye strain and headache due to a poor fit.
The optometrists at Hardin Valley Eyecare and Optical can help determine what’s causing your vision problems as well as help you find the perfect frames. Instead of picking up a pair at the drugstore, let our team help you find frames that fit perfectly on the first try, won’t strain your eyes, and fit your personal style.
Click here to learn more about astigmatism!
Comprehensive Eye Exams in Knoxville, TN
Another benefit of going to the optometrist is comprehensive eye exams. Along with finding your perfect
pair of reading glasses in Knoxville, Dr. Travis Thompson and Dr. Catharine Abbott can check your vision for any other issues. Comprehensive eye exams are the best way to catch vision problems early so you can get treatment before they become a major problem.
Comprehensive eye exams allow your eye doctor to check for:
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Macular degeneration
- Autoimmune disorders
- Dry eyes
But the benefits of comprehensive eye exams don’t stop there. They also provide us with a look into your overall health. With these in-depth eye exams, we can also check for signs of:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Blocked arteries
Comprehensive eye exams are just as important as your annual physical and regular dental visits. Schedule your exam today to stay on top of your vision and overall health.
To learn more about the connection between your eyes and overall health, click here!
Do I Need Reading Glasses?
Your vision changes as you get older and will require new treatments to help you see clearly. For many people, this means developing presbyopia in their 40s. Presbyopia is the natural hardening of the lens as you get older, making up-close objects appear blurry or out of focus. This isn’t to be confused with Myopia (nearsightedness), which is usually present at birth and makes faraway objects appear blurry.
Other signs that you may need reading glasses include:
- Needing brighter light when reading
- Experiencing eye strain while reading or working on the computer
- Frequent headaches
- Seeing halos around lights
Needing brighter light when reading is a common sign of presbyopia. It can sometimes even seem like there’s never enough light to help you see better. According to one study, the average 60-year old eye receives one-third of the light that a 20-year old does due to presbyopia.
Presbyopia can also result in you experiencing eye strain while reading or working on the computer. A temporary fix is to take more frequent breaks so your eyes have time to rest. However, a pair of glasses for reading is a better long-term option since they will help you see small print more easily.
Click here to learn more about digital eye strain and what you can do about it!
Constantly straining to see can tire out your eye muscles, causing you to experience more frequent headaches. While the tricks for digital eye strain can help (check out our link above), getting a pair of reading glasses is your best bet to see more easily and get rid of your headaches.
Seeing halos around lights is common when you have presbyopia. They occur when the lens of your eye can’t focus light onto the retina properly. This can cause glowing circles, or “halos,” to appear around headlights or other sources of light. Halos can also be a sign of astigmatism.
Do you suspect that you need reading glasses? Contact us today to schedule your next eye appointment at our Hardin Valley office!
Going to the optometrist in Knoxville for your reading glasses addresses more than presbyopia. It also gives our team an opportunity to check for astigmatism, your eye prescription, and perform a comprehensive eye exam. It’s common to need reading glasses in your 40s due to the natural hardening of the eye’s lens, known as presbyopia. For a comfortable fit that is designed for your unique eye needs, visit Dr. Travis Thompson or Dr. Catherine Abbot at our clinic in Hardin Valley.
Hardin Valley Eyecare & Optical has been serving Knoxville since 2009. Dr. Travis Thompson and Dr. Catherine Abbott specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide array of eye diseases, conditions, and problems and are committed to improving the quality of life in the Knoxville community through enhanced vision. Located at 10904 Spring Bluff Way, you can schedule an appointment online or give us a call at (865) 888-0892.
