Prescription vs. Non-Prescription Glasses: Which One is Worth It?
Eyeglasses influence how you view someone or vice versa. It is irrespective of whether you grew up using them or have started using them only recently. Your glasses can give away a lot about you.
Glasses are the most crucial part of eyeglasses. They improve your sight, enabling you to see the world better. Reasons such as ageing and computer use often weaken human eyesight. Suitable lenses can help address blurred vision.
You must explore a range of factors before settling on your ideal eyeglasses. Furthermore, you must decide whether to buy prescription or non-prescription eyeglasses. Both types of eyewear have a distinct purpose and can cater to various needs.
You may either want a fresh-faced or intellectual look. Suitable eyeglasses can deliver both and a lot more. They can influence how the society identifies you. Use them to create the image that you want the world to see.
The vital thing is to identify the right eyeglasses to improve your sight. This guide will examine prescription vs. non-prescription glasses to determine their differences. You will have comprehensive knowledge about both glass types to make educated choices.
How Our Eyes Change With Age?
Human physiology, including the eyes, undergoes various changes. Ageing is a natural process that can worsen vision quality and eye health. However, realising these changes to adopt natural solutions can cause effective eyesight maintenance.
Ageing compromises eyesight, causing a few changes to the eyes. Some are natural and manageable, but others may need medical intervention.
We have detailed the common effects of ageing on eyes here below:
Presbyopia
This condition involves the slow loss of the eye’s ability to concentrate on nearby objects. Presbyopia occurs when reading small print becomes a challenge by age 40. It happens as the lens inside the eye loses flexibility.
Dry Eyes
Tear production in human eyes declines with age, leading to dry eyes. It can cause redness, discomfort, and a gritty eye tingle.
Cataracts
A cataract is a common age-related condition that blurs vision by clouding the lenses. It is the primary cause of vision loss in ageing individuals. Effective surgery can treat cataracts.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD compromises the macula inside the eye, the core section of the retina that provides sharp vision. It is one of the most common causes of vision loss in people over 60. AMD can spoil routine activities such as reading and recognising faces.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that harm the optic nerve. It often occurs due to high intraocular pressure and can cause total vision loss without medical intervention.
Reduced Peripheral Vision
Ageing can be a significant reason for a limited field of vision. It can be narrow, making it challenging to notice objects at the extreme corners of the eye.
Know About Prescription Glasses
Investing in eyeglasses can be a significant challenge. The sheer number of styles can overwhelm you during the buying process. We recommend getting a detailed idea of your needs first.
You must secure the right prescription glasses before diving deep into eyewear fashion. People often struggle to get the perfect pair of prescription glasses. You must pick the coatings and lenses that offer the best features.
Appear for routine eye tests to ensure your prescription is up-to-date. This will help you pick the correct prescription eyeglasses for better vision correction.
Exploring prescription glasses allows you to balance your vision needs with your sense of style. If you are browsing for luxury, classic, or designer styles, you must take a tactful approach.
We know glasses are expensive today. But the ideal eyewear will match your bespoke preferences, benefit you with optimal vision correction, and blend in with your lifestyle and fashion sense.
Types of Prescription Glasses
Prescription lenses serve as the soul of eyeglasses that support your eyesight. They deliver the precise, clear vision that you need. You will find an extensive range of prescription lenses in the market. All promise to correct your eyesight, whether you struggle to see near, far, or both.
Single Vision
This prescription lens variant addresses a single vision problem. These problems could range from farsightedness and nearsightedness to astigmatism. The lens features an equal amount of vision correction throughout.
Full-frame readers are the most common option for single-vision reading glasses. However, many users prefer single-vision lenses in half-frame reading glasses, which present a slender fit and position at the nose tip to ensure easy up-close and distance viewing.
Multifocal Lenses
People with multiple vision problems need eyeglasses with multifocal lenses, which come in two varieties: bifocals and progressive lenses. They have two or more vision-correcting prescriptions.
Bifocal
Bifocals are the same lens featuring two prescriptions. The eyeglass lens has two splitting sections. The more significant part supports distance vision, and the more minor part helps in near vision. If a person wears bifocals, it’s easy to identify the line between their near-sighted and farsighted prescriptions.
Progressive lenses
These are multifocal lenses with separate fields of vision. The three eyesight fields are distance, intermediate, and near. However, progressives do not feature any noticeable line between prescriptions. This provides the wearer with a seamless transition from far-away distance to up-close objects.
Computer Glasses
Lenses in computer glasses treat eyestrain, which results from extensive screen time. These glasses can help you maintain a rough distance of around 20 to 26 inches.
Computer lenses are ideal for introducing a safe distance between people and screens. They feature tinted lenses to remove the blue light from your digital screens.
Reading
People often find reading glasses to be necessary even if they do not have an eyeglass prescription. You do not need a valid prescription to buy reading glasses. You should consult your eye doctor to determine the magnification you need.
Benefits of Wearing Prescription Glasses
Eyeglasses do much more than vision correction. You can leverage them to better both your style and eye health. You can make educated choices by realising the benefits of wearing eyeglasses.
We have detailed some of the top benefits of wearing eyeglasses that you must consider!
Aids in Correcting Nearsightedness
Millions worldwide struggle with nearsightedness, which is also known as myopia and makes people see distant objects blurry. Hence, routine activities like driving on the road or watching movies can become complex.
We recommend you get eyeglasses for nearsightedness. They can address your issue by using lenses that concentrate on your retina. Wear them to view distant objects with precision and avoid eye strain. These glasses better your vision, allowing you to enjoy activities without limitations.
Assists in Correcting Farsightedness
Farsightedness is common among people today. This vision issue is also popularly known as hyperopia. Differing from myopia, this one hinders one’s ability to focus on nearby objects. However, one can see distant elements in complete clarity.
Bifocal glasses are helpful here, allowing you to view subjects from close to afar. Furthermore, the lenses support light, lessening the strain on your eyes for close-up tasks.
Protect Your Eye from Harmful Elements
Dirt, dust, and even wind can damage your eyesight. If you are traversing such conditions, your eyes will struggle with irritation. Prescription glasses provide a protective barrier against harmful elements.
Eyeglasses can defend your eyes as a shield against foreign particles. They will sustain your eyesight while also addressing any discomfort. You can enjoy this extra layer of protection if your engagements are around settings with flying debris.
Blocks UV Rays
The ultraviolet rays of the sun can damage your eyesight over time. Exposing your eyes for long can cause severe conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration. Thus, you must invest in glasses with a UV guard. They can promise to defend your eyes from these harmful rays.
These advanced lenses protect your eyes by blocking UV rays and encourage you to enjoy the outdoors. We recommend that you wear UV-blocking eyeglasses for eye health security.
Filters Blue Light
Digital screens dominate us throughout the modern age—computers, phones, and tablets. Constant exposure makes people take in harmful blue light from digital screens. The light has the potential to cause eye strain and sleep disruption.
Blue light blockers can reduce the amount of blue light reaching your eyes. As a result, they can ensure zero discomfort when seeing objects. Moreover, they can contribute to better sleep quality.
Non-Prescription Glasses Explained
Non-prescription glasses are also popular as “fashion glasses” or “fake glasses”. They do not feature any corrective lenses. Plenty of people use them for fashion or practical purposes. They have grown up to be fashion-forward people.
They are stylish accessories, yet they protect your eyes from harmful blue light and UV rays.
These glasses deliver much more than style upgrades. Most of them come with blue light blockers, which make them a must-have in our digital world.
Extended exposure to blue light from digital screens can damage your eyes. Moreover, they can cause disrupted sleep patterns and digital eye strain, among other eye health issues. You can use this computer-reading eyewear to reduce eye fatigue.
Also, they will better your sleep quality by removing the blue light.
Benefits of Wearing Non-Prescription Glasses
Non-prescription glasses have entered the eye care industry as a chic yet functional accessory. They combine fun and function to support your eyesight. You will have plenty of questions if you are new to this fast-growing trend.
We have explained the benefits of non-prescription glasses in comprehensive detail.
Guard For The Eyes
Non-prescription glasses protect your eyes against harmful blue light and UV rays. It is imperative since extended exposure to UV rays can cause macular degeneration, cataracts, and other eye problems.
Ease Eye Strain And Fatigue
Glasses with no prescription lenses also help ease eye strain and fatigue. People who work through prolonged screen time or travel in bright sunlight can enjoy them. But you must make sure that your eyewear features advanced lenses. Focus on eye-relaxing, power-boosting, or anti-fatigue technology to help the glasses ease your eye strain.
Stylish And Fashionable Accessory
Glasses with no prescription promise to enhance individual fashion. Many use them as stylish accessories to complement their attire and overall look. They are available in many designs, styles, and colours, making shopping convenient.
Convenience And Flexibility
You can wear these glasses without visiting the doctor to get a prescription. Thus, they serve as a flexible and convenient option for many people. If you need vision corrective features in your eyewear, you can use non-prescription lenses. They will provide you with eye protection while also boosting your fashion game.
How To Safely Use Glasses With Non-Prescription Lenses?
You must pick the perfect eyeglasses without prescription lenses in a secure fashion. We recommend you check their fitting before using them. Moreover, keep them clean by wiping them with a microfiber cloth.
Consulting the doctor can benefit you if you are experiencing vision discomfort. However, trying eyeglasses with non prescription lenses to identify underlying eye problems is a hindrance. You do not have to remove non-prescription glasses, but they should not replace a proper eye exam to address potential vision issues.
- Non Prescription Glasses are Harmless: Plano glasses do not feature any vision corrective power. Moreover, they do not have the potential to harm your eyesight and health.
- Consider Specific Lens Features: You must check the features of your non-prescription glass option. Find out if it provides blue light filtering or UV protection.
- Proper Fit Is Crucial: Make sure the non-prescription glasses fit your face tightly. It should not cause pressure points or slip.
- Regular Cleaning: You should maintain your glasses with a soft microfiber cloth. It prevents scratches and provides clarity.
- Don’t Ignore Vision Concerns: See an eye doctor if you struggle with eye strain or headaches when wearing non-prescription glasses. They will help you identify the underlying issues (if any) that caused the discomfort.
Differences between Prescription Vs. Non-Prescription Glasses
Comparing prescription vs. non-prescription glasses can be extensive. The differences between the two types of glasses can influence your decision to buy the perfect pair of eyeglasses for your vision. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the differences between the two types of glasses.
Customisation for Vision Correction
Prescription Glasses: Prescription glasses support modification to address your vision needs. An eye health expert identifies the necessary prescription to address your vision issues. Customised lenses can help your eye condition and ensure precise vision correction.
Non-Prescription Glasses: Non-prescription eyewear does not offer vision correction. It comes as generic, universal-fit lenses. Thus, it does not provide personalised aids for vision issues. Instead, you can hope for glare reduction and UV light protection.
Purpose and Functionality
Prescription Glasses: The fundamental purpose of these glasses is vision correction. People with refractive errors must use them. They can help provide clean and pleasant vision. These glasses also feature treatments or special coatings tailored to the wearer’s needs.
Non-Prescription Glasses: Non-prescription glasses are appropriate for cosmetic reasons and eye protection. Blue light glasses work to reduce eye strain from excessive time. They also do a similar job against UV rays. Although these glasses can improve the comfort quotient, they do not deliver vision correction.
Lens Technology and Materials
Prescription Glasses: Prescription lenses feature innovative technology to provide vision correction. The substances and build quality of the lenses vary according to the degree of correction required. For instance, high-index lenses are thin and light to support high prescriptions.
Non-Prescription Glasses: Non prescription spectacles do not come in varied designs and build since they do not offer vision correction. But you can expect helpful features such as tinting, polarisation, or blue light filtering. They concentrate more on eye protection and comfort rather than correction.
When Should You Choose Prescription Glasses?
You must consider prescription glasses when you notice noticeable symptoms of visual discomfort. These could include eye strain, blurry vision, frequent headaches, squinting, or difficulty reading. These signs can compromise your ability to participate in your daily activities.
We have listed some key indicators that can help you determine whether you need a prescription for glasses.
- Blurry vision: You could struggle to see objects close up, far away, or both.
- Eye strain: Experiencing fatigue in your eyes after extensive screen time.
- Headaches: Enduring constant headaches when trying to focus on screens or reading.
- Difficulty reading: You are finding it hard to read small print
- Double vision: Viewing double images.
- Poor night vision: You have trouble sighting things under low light conditions.
Royal Specs: Brings Years of Experience in Delivering Premium Eyewear Solutions
Identifying prescription vs. non-prescription glasses involves your lifestyle and requirements. You must understand the differences between the two types of eyewear to make an educated decision.
We recommend that you consult with an eye care professional. They can help you determine what strength of reading glasses you may need for your eyesight.
Royal Specs has an extensive roster of designer, classical, and luxury eyeglasses. Furthermore, our team can help you find the perfect glass frames without prescription to meet your needs.
When exploring eyewear, focus on comfort and clarity. If you have any questions or needs, our dedicated customer service can guide you.
Start browsing our product catalogue now to get a fresh view of life and light.
