Reading glasses with contacts

Why you need readers with contacts

Standard contact lenses correct your distance vision. They do nothing for presbyopia, the loss of close-up focus that starts after 40. With contacts in, your eyes behave like the eyes of someone who never needed glasses: sharp far away, blurred up close. Reading glasses over the contacts add the missing near focus.

People who are nearsighted often notice this suddenly, because without contacts they could always read by taking their glasses off.

What strength to choose

The same strength as anyone else your age, usually +1.00 to +1.50 in the early forties and rising from there. The important point is to test with your contacts in.

1. Put your contacts in as usual.
2. Take the reading glasses test at 14 inches.
3. Try on the suggested strength, and the one below it, over your contacts.

If your contacts are slightly weaker than your full prescription, you may need a little less. If they are slightly stronger, a little more.

Ways to avoid readers

• Multifocal contact lenses have zones for distance and near in each lens.
• Monovision fits one eye for distance and the other for near. Most people adapt in a week or two, though depth perception is slightly reduced.
• Glasses instead. Progressive lenses cover every distance in one pair.

An optometrist can fit trial lenses so that you can compare these before deciding.