At some point in most people’s lives there comes a time when the old eyes aren’t up to reading in low light or at a short distance. I guess the average age is somewhere in one’s 40s, but there also some people who never require them, and others who need to wear spectacles from a very early age. For those of us, like myself, who have never been a spectacle wearer and not a massive fan of sunglasses for the sake of fashion, the time to start wearing glasses for reading can be a little bit daunting, inconvenient, and even possibly a tad embarrassing.
However, there is no need to despair, because wearing reading glasses doesn’t need to be stressful or embarrassing. As long as you get a pair that are a healthy benefit to your eyes, and don’t give you headaches, there is a massive selection available to meet almost any sensible budget and taste. Maybe a little bit like braces on teeth in some parts of the world, which have become rather fashionable recently, there appears to be a bit of a fad for designer reading glasses. Of course, it would be a bit much to say that some people wear reading glasses when they don’t need them, but it is clear that there are plenty of people in the world who wear sunglasses and clear spectacles for no other reason than to look cool. Reading glasses, by definition, are supposed to be worn for short periods when reading is a strain due to poor light or old eyes. Saying that, though, I wouldn’t be that surprised to see more fashionable designs available to encourage people to buy them, to compete with other retailers or manufacturers, or just to freshen up a shop’s range. Unless damage is being done to the eyes, there really is nothing wrong with buying or wearing a pair of designer reading glasses. In fact, there is some sense in the argument that such a necessary piece of kit should be enjoyable, or at least not embarrassing, to wear.
Basically, we all need to take care of our bodies, to give us the opportunity of enjoying older life. Unnecessary teeth braces are a bit much, especially for adults, but our skin and eyes can’t be replaced. There is no shame at all in needing a bit of help when reading a menu in a candle-lit restaurant or trying to find your way on a map. Go and get yourself a pair of reading glasses, and you may even end up with a new look that is positive and possibly makes you look mature in a good way, wise or clever!
Poom Morgan. My passions include travelling, reading, yoga and languages.