A strong reader. Text is sharp at about 33cm, so it suits close detailed work. It will make anything further than arm's length blurry, so these are for reading only.
The number is the lens power in dioptres. +3.00 dioptres brings text into sharpest focus at about 33cm for an eye with no focusing range left; if your eyes still have some focusing ability, you will see clearly over a wider band, including a little further away.
If you still push your phone away with +3.00, step up to +3.50. If you have to bring things closer than feels natural, or you get a headache after half an hour, step down to +2.75.
The same strength is available as photochromic readers that darken outdoors, and as reading sunglasses. For screen work, see the computer glasses guide.
When to see an optician: if your two eyes seem different, if you have headaches or double vision, or if it has been more than two years since your last eye test.
Typical age and the distance text is sharpest (for eyes with no focusing range left).
| Strength | Typical age | Sharp at |
|---|---|---|
| +1.00 | early to mid 40s | ~100cm |
| +1.25 | mid 40s | ~80cm |
| +1.50 | mid to late 40s | ~67cm |
| +1.75 | late 40s to around 50 | ~57cm |
| +2.00 | around 50 to mid 50s | ~50cm |
| +2.25 | mid 50s | ~44cm |
| +2.50 | mid to late 50s | ~40cm |
| +2.75 | late 50s to 60s | ~36cm |
| +3.00 | 60s and over | ~33cm |
| +3.50 | 60s and over, close work | ~29cm |
Typically people in their 60s and over, reading at a normal distance. A strong reader.
If you have to hold text closer than about 33cm to see it clearly, or the page swims when you look up, they are probably too strong. Try +2.75.
Only if your screen is close. For a desktop monitor at 50 to 70cm, most people who read with +3.00 are more comfortable with a computer pair about +0.50 to +0.75 weaker.
sight.direct is run by the team behind Eyeconic. Shop links go to Eyeconic. Guides are written to be useful whichever retailer you buy from.