Along with the appearance of many online eyeglass stores, we are witnessing the age of online eye charts. Many of us see this development of "do it yourself" assessment as a convenient way of saving time. It takes mere seconds to use such a chart and decide what strength of reading glasses you need. It has to be said that these charts are a great service, and they make the purchase of reading glasses quicker and easier for countless people.

Eye Charts Are Not a Substitute for Professional Care

It must be remembered though, that online eye charts are in no way a substitute for proper assessment of your eyes. For best results, a professional test is necessary. Be aware that ready-to-wear reading glasses are the same in both lenses; often those who need glasses need a different prescription for each eye.

If there is any chance that your problem is not a simple, straightforward need for a pair of reading glasses, then you should make an appointment to see an optometrist. Occasionally, difficulty focusing on close objects may be the first sign of glaucoma. This is just one eye problem that can only be successfully treated if it is caught in time.

In fact, when you first discover that you need reading glasses, you should probably have a professional check up. It's worth making absolutely sure that presbyopia is the only problem you have. In the majority of cases this is so; many people over the age of 40 need reading glasses, and the greater part of the population over 60 needs reading glasses.