Okay, let me tell you, as someone who relies on reading glasses, finding the right pair can be a real adventure. Especially when your eyes need a little more help than the average person. I've been on a quest to find stronger reading glasses, and it's been quite the learning experience. I thought I'd share some of what I've discovered, particularly my experiences in New York.
Like many, my first instinct was to head to Amazon. I needed a pair of +4.0 reading glasses, but I kept running into issues. My orders kept getting rejected. It felt like I was trying to order something illegal! I tried multiple times, thinking it might be a glitch, but no luck. I wondered if Amazon's system was just being finicky, as I've heard that their shipping restrictions can sometimes be a bit off. I even considered if it was a seller issue rather than a legal one. Whatever the reason, I needed a new plan.
After some digging, I discovered something interesting: New York State has restrictions on the sale of ready-made reading glasses. Apparently, you can't buy readers stronger than +2.75 over the counter. I found out about ยง7127, which regulates the advertising of these non-prescription glasses sold through the mail. This explained why Amazon was giving me such a hard time! It seems like the eyeglass industry might have played a role in this, wanting to steer people towards higher-priced, professionally fitted glasses. Whatever the reason, I had to adjust my strategy.
So, if Amazon was out, where could I turn? I remembered someone mentioning that 99 cent stores and smaller, non-chain drug stores sometimes carry stronger reading glasses. I decided to check those out. It felt like a treasure hunt, but I was determined to find a solution. I also considered that maybe some retailers were simply listing the glasses differently, like calling them "magnifying computer glasses" instead of "reading glasses." This seemed to work for some, as I heard stories of people successfully ordering +3.0 glasses listed that way.
While searching, I stumbled upon some interesting information about European regulations. In Europe, readers over +3.50 are considered medical devices. This means they can only be dispensed by an optician as ophthalmic lenses in a frame, prescribed by a doctor. So, no ready-made options there either for stronger prescriptions.
After lots of research, I discovered a promising option that I wanted to share. I found some Elbru Anti-blue Light Magnetic Reading Glasses. I was intrigued by the magnetic halter neck design, which seemed really convenient. I decided to try the +3.0 diopter version. I've been using these for a few weeks now, and I'm really happy with them. The anti-blue light feature is a bonus, especially since I spend so much time looking at screens. They are available in a range of strengths. I think this product can be a good choice for many.
Here's why I think they're worth considering:
If you're looking for a new pair of reading glasses, especially if you need something a bit stronger, you might want to check out Elbru's Anti-blue Light Magnetic Reading Glasses. The strong reading glasses from Elbru are a great solution to my needs.
Based on my experiences, here are some tips for finding the right reading glasses, especially if you need a stronger prescription: