Somewhere around my 50th birthday, my friends and I started holding restaurant menus up for each other across the table so we could read them. I held books at arm’s length and if my husband put something under my nose to take a look at, I had to push it a foot away to actually see it.
At my annual eye doctor visit, I marched in and announced, “Okay, I’m 50 now and I guess I’m finally going to have to get glasses.” He nodded, somberly, did his usual, extensive exam and said, “Nope, your vision is still 20/20.”
I was thrilled but thought he was nuts. I recounted my near-breakdown in the shower, when I couldn’t even remotely read the itsy bitsy print on the back of the expensive conditioner to find out how long to keep it in my hair. I skipped the part about throwing the bottle on the floor in frustration.
“You don’t need glasses,” he assured me. “You need a magnifying glass.”
So here we are, five years later, and we’ve pretty much had this same conversation every year. Last time, he suggested I try the weakest reading glasses but warned that they may still be too strong.
After watching the videos my friends Cathy Chester and Helene Cohen Bludman made, showing off their adorable new readers, I decided it was time to reach out to Readers.com and see for myself what they were like.
My daughter always wanted glasses and bemoaned the fact that she didn’t need them because there were so many cute frames she wanted to wear. I never understood this until I spent an hour on Readers.com, trying to choose just a few styles from their huge selection.
I started by printing out their diopter chart to find out what strength readers I needed. I could have held the paper much further than 14 inches from my face and still been able to the smallest print, so I requested three styles plus a pair of sunglasses to review, all in +1.00.
They are gorgeous and all so different, I finally get why so many people consider glasses a fashion accessory. At under $20 a pair, it would be easy to rationalize buying them for every outfit.
The first pair I chose was the Gleela. It’s a simple, basic style in Tortoise, which looks good with my eye and hair color. I’m thrilled to learn the history behind them and share the fact that 100% of the proceeds from these readers will go to cancer research if you buy them by tonight at midnight. That’s a win-win right there.
Although the Penny is not something that’s typically me, I was drawn to it because of the soothing blue and the surprising stripe. These add a real pop of color without being too bright or dramatic. Plus, it comes with a great-looking case.
I adore the Stanford (in the top photo above), a sophisticated style with temples (who knew that was the word for that part of the glasses?) in a metallic green that I’d like to paint the walls of my house. These are really beautiful and so lightweight, I think these will be my go-to readers.
Living in Southern California, I opted for a pair of sunglasses, too, and the Key West sun readers (which should be called the La Jolla, just saying) do the job with a hint of cool attitude. They’re nice and dark, which I really like.
Have fun picking out your own readers — please let me see which ones you get! — and don’t forget to pick up a pair of Gleelas today.
Next time we go out to lunch together, I’ll be happy to read the menu to you and you won’t even have to hold it up for me.
You look really cute in all those. Besides my “good” glasses, I also buy several pairs at the dollar store and keep them all over the house. And lastly, I have a pair that are tinted to reduce eye strain while using the computer. I’m told they also help with night driving but I haven’t tested that yet.
Thank you! Readers.com has glasses for the computer, too — I should have ordered those! Let me know if they help with the night driving.
Great post! I feel your pain! I’ve got a pair in every drawer in the house! I even have a different strength (a bit weaker) for computer work than I use for reading. I’ve got so many pairs, I could open a store! But I don’t have sunglasses! Great idea. I’ll check out Gleela!
The sunglasses are such a good idea, aren’t they? Would love to see some of your readers!
You look adorable in these! And thank you for the shout out, my friend. <3
You look so adorable in yours, you totally inspired me. Thank YOU!
You look adorable in all of the glasses, but I could do without the palm trees and sun and no shoes/socks. Just saying…
Thanks for the shout out, my friend. You are a gem!
Ha ha! Thank you for being so cute in yours, or I never would have gotten these!
Love this post. Have zillions of readers (from everywhere including peepers.com) but my personal fav are pink and the black sunglasses readers for the car, the beach, rock.
I want to see a picture of you in your own favorites!
How timely, Mine just broke yesterday. Now I’m down to just 2 pairs – and I can never find them when I need them!
You will find so many that you’ll love on Readers.com!
Just ordered two of pairs in pink! Thanks for the recommendation.
Awesome! Can’t wait to see you in them!
Cute glasses!! There are so many options, you can add a pair to each outfit and look glamourous from head to toe. I wonder how they’d work with my contacts. One is for close in vision and the other for far away.
There’s a lot of good information on the Readers.com site that may be able to tell you how they would work with contacts. Let me know if you get a pair. They’re all so cute!
Guess which ones are my all-time favorite? You are a beautiful woman reading in Bed. And that story collection looks happy in bed with you.Thank you for this picture. May I repost it everywhere? Times Square? etc?
xo
Jessica
I’m impressed that you didn’t need them until now. I got some a few years ago and made the mistake of also increasing the font on my computer at the same time – so my eyes got really lazy and then I needed NEW readers with a stronger rx. Argh! So don’t wear them unless you need them!