How come you cant buy near-sighted (-) glasses at the store?

Question

I've been to so many stores looking for near-sighted glasses, but all i've found are far-sighted (reading) ones. I already went to my eye doctor, but they said i had to wait a couple of weeks to get my glasses. i cant wait cause it bothers me a lot when i cant see. i wanna buy a pair of cheap ones to use temporarily, for now. but i cant find any. do u know where i can get some? if not, tell me WHY. thanx

Answer 1

As people age, they require reading glasses for presbyopia (the condition when the eye loses its ability to accomodate (focus) to see closer). This is so common and straightforward that people can self-prescribe a spherical magnifying aid. Since they are for reading only (a presbyope wearing their reading glasses has blurry distance vision), there isn't much of a safety concern on the road.

It just so happens that these lenses are also the same that correct farsightedness (hyperopia). So, hyperopes can find some drug-store glasses that may work well for them.

On the other hand, most vision disorders aren't quite that easy. Nearsightedness and farsightedness are often accompanied by astigmatism. And, the prescription is different in each eye. While it is plausible that most people could pick out their own glasses and see very well, the eye doctors have used the above arguments as well as others to have lawmakers restrict the sale of over-the-counter glasses. Some other reasons are that regular eye exams can catch other eye disorders to prevent vision loss, or even general health issues such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

Also, there are problems for nearsighted persons (myopes) choosing the correct lens. It is obvious when a (+) lens becomes too strong for a hyperope because distance vision becomes blurry. When a nearsighted person (myope) chooses too strong a (-) lens, distance vision often appears more "intense" but is confused for "clearer." This is because light becomes focused on a smaller area of the retina (minus lenses make the image appear smaller), and the same amount of light on the smaller area becomes brighter-- like moving a projector closer to the screen. And, because young people have accomodative reserve (that focusing power that's lost with age), they can still read with the too-strong lens. There are many who believe that constantly wearing too strong a minus-diopter lens will cause the eye to grow into requiring the stronger lens, effectively making one's eyesight worse.

The theory through these restrictions optometrists are protecting their income vs. promoting safety is debatable. But, the laws have erred on the side of safety, and you can't buy (-) glasses over-the-counter.

Answer 2

The glasses you can buy in the store are nothing more than magnifying glasses for folks that are losing or lost the ability to see small objects (writing) close up, typically from age, you need prescription glasses to correct a sight problem. Do your best to hang in there or try one of those 1 hour shops where you give them your prescription and they make the glasses on the spot.

Answer 3

I've heard that you can buy glasses for myopia "off the rack" in some countries across the Pacific. If you either didn't have access to an eye doctor, or couldn't afford prescription glasses, they would be much better than nothing.

I've found glasses at thrift stores that were almost exactly the same as my own prescription.

Answer 4

My thought is that patients will easily over-minus themselves. It is a great concern especially if the individual is young (<40 yo). Most people can still see with more minus than required because their eyes can "accommodate" (i.e., focus). However, if the minus correction is stronger than needed (which the patient can't tell unless they are refracted/examined by an eye doctor), you will accommodate to the point that you are exhausting your ocular muscles; this will result in eyestrain and headaches. Therefore, you'll be doing yourself a diservice.

Answer 5

I'm nearsighted myself but have to use those glasses when I'm wearing contact lenses. I don't need them at all when I'm only wearing my regular glasses or I don't have anything on my eyes. That's because I'm in my late 40s and most people my age have developed the problem with reading small print. What's unusual in my case is I don't really have this problem normally but it shows up when I'm wearing contacts.