Written by
Kim Wong-Shing
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
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Kim Wong-Shing Former Senior Associate Editor / Wellness
During her time at CNET, Kim Wong-Shing loved demystifying the world of wellness to make it accessible to any reader. She was also passionate about exploring the intersections of health, history and culture. Prior to joining CNET, she contributed stories to Glamour, MindBodyGreen, Greatist and other publications.
Expertise Nutrition | Personal care | Mental health | LGBTQ+ health Credentials
- Reads health studies in her sleep.
With 4+ years covering health and eye care products, we consider power, price, shipping and return policy to determine our roundup of the best places to buy reading glasses.
Nearly everybody needs reading glasses as they age, because our eyes tend to get weaker over time. Age-related blurry vision is caused by the lens of the eye becoming less flexible. The technical term for this condition is presbyopia, and most people develop it to some degree as they age.
"The human lens grows like a little onion and adds layers, and right around age 40 becomes stiffer," Dr. Viola Kanevsky, a past president of the New York State Optometric Association, told CNET. "Even a person who's always had perfect vision suddenly needs reading glasses and starts to pull things out further."
If presbyopia is the only issue with your vision, reading glasses can be a simple solution, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. It's important that you get a thorough eye exam in order to ensure you don't have any other vision issues, and determine your prescription and power requirement to ensure your glasses' strength is as needed. Once you have your power figures, however, you can easily buy reading glasses online and get the perfect pair shipped right to your door.
You'll find tons of retailers offering reading glasses online, but not all of them are good. After sifting through nearly a dozen sites, carefully considering customer reviews, product variety and shipping policies, we've picked our top choices to help you buy the best reading glasses for your needs. Find out where to get the best readers and find the right pair for your face shape.
What are the best overall reading glasses?
GlassesUSA is our pick for the best overall reading glasses you can buy online, thanks to its well-rounded inventory, fair policies and great customer reviews. GlassesUSA was also one of CNET's picks for the best online glasses and best prescription sunglasses.
GlassesUSA offers nearly 200 frames as reading glasses. You can get lens powers from +0.25 to +4 on every pair, which is one of the widest ranges out of all the brands we looked at. Even people with very weak or very strong farsightedness can get their readers here. There are many different styles to choose from, from traditional to bold. Frequent sales bring the prices down to as low as about $34 for a pair. GlassesUSA also has other policies and perks that make it a convenient vendor to buy from. These include virtual try-ons, free shipping, free returns or exchanges and a year-long warranty.
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Warby Parker is a popular and well-known brand in the online glasses world, and for good reason. Its site makes it easy to shop for the exact styles you're interested in based on size, shape, color and more. You can try on frames virtually or even at home. All of Warby Parker's glasses are available as reading glasses with powers from +0.25 to +2.75. Glasses start at $95 and come with free shipping and 30-day returns.
You can't go wrong with a budget pair of glasses from Zenni, with more than 1,700 frames to choose from. The company now offers a line of ready-to-wear readers with powers from +0.50 to +2.75 starting at just $7. (If you need +0.25, you can also go the custom route.) The site offers a virtual try-on experience and because the frames are so affordable, it's easy to get a couple of pairs for different occasions or to stash in different locations. If you do change your mind, make a return within two weeks for a refund or within 30 days for store credit.
There's something to be said for buying a pair of reading glasses from a brand that's dedicated to that specific product. Readers.com offers little perks like an online "PowerFinder" to help you determine the best strength for your eyes, and it sells frames in +1 to +4 powers to accommodate a wide range of vision needs. The site's frames come in a range of prices and styles (over 500). You can filter your search by shape, style and more.
Peepers, a brand you might recognize from talk shows or Oprah's Favorite Things, is ideal for people who want a bolder or more creative look at a reasonable price. The brand keeps things simple: The selection isn't huge, but it is well-curated and each pair of glasses is the exact same price: $29 (before tax and any discounts). Virtual try-on is available, and shipping is free over $42. Powers range from +1 to +4.
Pair Eyewear is unique in that each of its frames allows for multiple different looks -- you can add magnetic attachments to the frames to achieve a new color or pattern. Any one of the frames on Pair's website can be made into reading glasses with strengths from +0.25 to +2.75 for the same price as a prescription pair of glasses. There are 15 base frames for women and 11 base frames for men to choose from and almost 500 tops to switch out per frame. CNET reporter Jessica Rendall explained the process in detail in her pair eyewear review.
| Company | Powers | Shipping | Returns | Warranty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GlassesUSA | +.25 to +4 | Free standard shipping; $20 for next day | 14 days | 1 year | $19 to over $400 |
| Warby Parker | +.25 to +2.75 | Free standard shipping; $25 plus tax for expedited | 30 days | Six-month no-scratch guarantee | $95 to $295+ |
| Zenni | +.25 to +2.75 | $5 shipping; $19 rush shipping | 2 weeks for refund or 30 days for store credit | 30 days | $12 to $50 |
| Readers.com | 1 to 7 | Free first-class shipping over $35; $13+ for priority express or next-day | 90 days | 90 days | $14 to over $42 |
| Peepers | +1 to +4 | Free standard shipping over $42; $9 for priority mail | 90 days | None | $29 |
| Pair Eyewear | +.25 to +2.75 | Free standard; $15 for priority or faster | 30 days | 30 days | $60 and up |
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- Strength: Reading glasses strengths tend to range from +0.25 to +2.50 diopters (the unit of power that glasses prescriptions use), though the average starting strength appears to be around +0.75. It's important to see an eye doctor to find the power that works for your eyes. You may need a stronger pair as you get older, or you'll want bifocal or progressives if you need both distance and nearsighted vision correction.
- Style: Expressing your style is one of the main perks of wearing glasses. Find the ideal shape, width, material and color. Don't be afraid to change things up.
- Price: Reading glasses can be quite affordable since they don't need to be custom-made like prescription glasses. However, designer reading glasses will cost more, with prices of $150 and up. If you tend to lose your glasses or want to have multiple pairs on hand, it might be better to stick with lower-priced options.
- Upgrades: Consider whether you need any lens treatments like blue-light filters, polarization or anti-glare coatings.
- Shipping and returns: If you opt for an online pair, you probably won't get to try them in person, making it more important to use a company with timely shipping and an easy way to make returns or exchanges.
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- Selection: We looked at not only the number of different frames but also the range of colors, shapes, materials and so on. Essentially, how likely is it that a range of people would be able to find a pair they liked from this store?
- Shipping policies: We considered whether free shipping is available, how long that shipping takes, and how much it costs to upgrade to faster shipping. We also looked at warranties and return policies.
- Customer satisfaction and reviews: We took other CNET editors' experiences into account, as well as customer reviews online.
- Price range: We looked at the average price of a pair of frames, and the lowest and highest prices, to find the best reading glasses for different readers' budgets.
Read more: 4 DIY Glasses Adjustments for a Comfy and Snug Fit, No Special Tools Required
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How do I know what strength of reading glasses to get?
The easiest and surest way is to see an eye doctor, especially if you think you need a stronger pair. Another alternative is to try on glasses of different strengths and pick the lowest power that you can see well with. An online diopter chart can also help you find the closest power that may help you read.
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Are cheap reading glasses OK?
Yes, cheap reading glasses are perfectly acceptable, and there's no reason to shell out more than $25 for a pair unless you want to. Just know that cheaper frames may not last as long or hold up to as much wear and tear as higher-quality ones.
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