Reading Glasses — The Complete Guide: Diopters, Choice, Care
Written by MODI
After 40, almost everyone notices the same thing: the phone gradually moves further away from the eyes, and book print keeps “shrinking.” It's neither a disease nor an exception — age-related farsightedness (presbyopia) is a natural process: with age, the eye's lens loses its elasticity and struggles to focus at close range. The solution is simple — properly chosen reading glasses. This is the complete guide — from picking your diopter to caring for your glasses.
When you need them — 5 signs
You read text at arm's length · Reading in dim light is a struggle · You get headaches after long reading sessions · Your eyes tire quickly · Fine print has started to “double.” If at least two of these sound familiar — it's time for reading glasses.
Diopter chart by age
| Age | Typical diopter |
|---|---|
| 40–44 | +0.75 – +1.0 |
| 45–49 | +1.0 – +1.5 |
| 50–54 | +1.5 – +2.0 |
| 55–59 | +2.0 – +2.5 |
| 60+ | +2.5 – +3.0 |
This chart is a starting point, not an exact prescription — every pair of eyes is individual. At MODI, BARNER reading glasses are available from +1.0 to +3.0, in half-step increments.
The home test — 3 steps
1. Take a book or newspaper with regular print and hold it 35–40 centimeters from your eyes — the natural reading distance.
2. If the text is blurry at that distance, start with the weakest lens (+1.0) and move up step by step.
3. The right diopter is the one that lets you read comfortably without stretching out your arm and without straining your eyes.
Two golden rules
When in doubt, go weaker. An overly strong lens is the most common cause of dizziness and discomfort.
For the computer — half a step less. The screen sits 60–70 cm away, not 35 — so a lens half a step weaker than your reading diopter works better.
Reading + blue-light filter — in one pair
If you spend a large part of the day at a screen and need reading glasses too, most BARNER screen glasses also come with diopters (+1.0 to +2.5) — a blue-light filter and reading correction in a single pair. More on this topic: Blue-cut glasses — what they actually do.
When you need an ophthalmologist
Ready-made reading glasses are a good solution when both eyes see roughly the same. You should visit an ophthalmologist if: there's a noticeable difference between your eyes · you have astigmatism · headaches don't go away even with glasses · your vision is changing quickly. If you have an individual prescription, prescription lenses can also be ordered at MODI branches.
Care — so they last
Wash them with lukewarm water and mild soap, dry with a microfiber cloth (not your shirt!), keep them in a hard case — and never set them down lens-side down. Every BARNER pair comes with a case and a cleaning cloth.
Browse the collection
Or visit us in store: Vake (Axis Towers) · East Point · Tbilisi Mall · Batumi Grand Mall. A consultant will help you choose the right diopter — fitting is free.
Read next: Prescription lenses · “Chameleon” photochromic glasses · Lens tinting
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which dioptre I need for reading glasses?
Hold normal print 35-40 cm from your eyes — the natural reading distance. If the text is blurry there, start with the weakest lens (+1.0) and move up in half steps; the right dioptre is the one that lets you read without stretching your arm or straining your eyes.
Which dioptre is typical for my age?
As a starting point: +0.75 to +1.0 at 40-44, +1.0 to +1.5 at 45-49, +1.5 to +2.0 at 50-54, +2.0 to +2.5 at 55-59, and +2.5 to +3.0 from 60. This is a guide, not a prescription — every pair of eyes is different.
Can I buy reading glasses without seeing an ophthalmologist?
Ready-made reading glasses work well when both eyes see roughly the same. See an ophthalmologist if there is a noticeable difference between your eyes, you have astigmatism, headaches persist even with glasses, or your vision is changing quickly.
Can reading glasses also have a blue-light filter?
Yes. Most BARNER screen glasses also come with dioptres from +1.0 to +2.5, so a single pair gives you both reading correction and a blue-light filter.
Which dioptres does MODI stock and what do reading glasses cost?
BARNER reading glasses run from +1.0 to +3.0 in half steps and start at 195 GEL. Fitting is free in all four MODI stores, and every pair comes with a case and a cleaning cloth.
