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Should You Buy “Dime Store” Reading Glasses?

Over-the-counter or “dime store” reading glasses, so called because they were first sold in 5-&-10-cent stores, are inexpensive eyeglasses that can be purchased in variety, drug, and discount store without a prescription. They are not an ideal substitute for prescription bifocals or trifocals, which you may discover as soon as you try them. These types of glasses are simply magnifying glasses mounted in frames. Still, they can come in handy if you like to have several pairs of reading glasses lying around in different places or if you tend to misplace or lose a lot of reading glasses.

If you are wondering if you can use them instead of prescription reading glasses or bifocals, the following questions and answers may assist you….

Q:        How do “dime store” glasses differ from prescription reading glasses?

A:         Prescription glasses are custom ground to your exact vision needs. The critical positions on your face are measured by a skilled optical dispenser, who will adjust a durable frame to fit your face. They will take into account such factors as face width, asymmetry, size of your nose, and the distance between your eyes. The lenses of dime store glasses are not usually up to the quality of those ground in a prescription laboratory. The optical centers of the lenses are not likely to be in the precise position that gives you the best and most comfortable reading vision. The frames are meant as a “one size fits all”.

Q:        Can the “dime store” glasses damage your eyes?

A:         No. Even if they are not particularly comfortable to wear, they cannot damage or ruin your eyes.

Q:        Can everyone wear them?

A:         In general, to wear glasses that have not been ground especially for you, you need to have perfect or nearly-perfect vision (without glasses), equal optical power in both eyes, and little or no astigmatism. Most people who need reading glasses do not fit these criteria closely enough to wear the over-the-counter glasses comfortably. 

Q:        Do you need to have an eye exam before buying them?

A:         Not necessarily. When you try on the glasses, you can be the judge as to whether or not you see well enough with them to purchase them. If you are in the age group—over 40—that needs reading glasses, you should also have a complete eye examination to check for such sight-threatening conditions as glaucoma and cataracts. Do not postpone or forego regular eye examinations simply because you can buy and use reading glasses from the dime store.