Yes, I have been wearing contact lenses with reading glasses for probably 10+ years now – since my early 50’s I think. Actually my prescription lenses are bi-focals, since I spend a lot of time on the computer. I just keep that pair at home – when I go out I carry cheap reading glasses in my purse, just for things like reading menus.
These days I don’t wear my contacts all the time-- I also have separate prescriptions for when I am not wearing contacts. But I am more comfortable driving wearing contacts rather than glasses.
Actually, these days I wear only a single contact lens – one eye is nearsighted, the other really doesn’t need a prescription of any kind. (So I can see fine without any glasses or lenses, but then I lose the binocular vision which causes its own array of problems). About a year or so ago I shifted to daily wear lenses and I am much happier all around with those.
Keep in mind you can just buy cheap reading glasses at the drug store and they may solve your problem. Of course it’s best to get your eyes checked to be sure of your prescription – but prescription reading glasses are not necessary. You might do fine with the over-the-counter version – just experiment a little to figure out what level of magnification you use.
I like the readers that come in the tube cases – I can usually find them for about $5, the case fits well in a purse or backpack – and obviously no problem cost-wise with keeping a supply of multiple sets on hand.
I’m needing my reading glasses more and more and I’ve developed the unfortunate habit of wearing my them pushed up on my head as a headband so that they are always available. Of course, I forget they are there from time to time and reach for another pair. Those get pushed up, too. My sister noted that I look insane with multiple pairs of glasses stacked up on my forehead. So much for trying to dress young.
Has anyone found an attractive solution for keeping one’s glasses on one’s person at all times? I don’t want to carry around a bag all day and don’t always have pockets.
When I was using readers all the time, I kept them hanging around my neck on a beaded sunglass holder thing. Typing that reminds me of my 3rd grade teacher, but I think mine was cute, not old lady like!
Following this thread with interest because my 20/20 vision is going the way of the Dodo bird… One eye seems to need reading glasses soon…
I solve the problem of not losing my sunglasses by (i) buying a very expensive pair and (ii) using the neckline of my clothes or buttonholes as a sunglasses hanger. I guarantee that I will be doing the same with my reading glasses.
Guess I’m lucky. Wearing contacts over 30 years, starting needing reading glasses last year. Doc had me try multifocal contacts. Wearing them for a year now and love it. Doc wouldn’t tell me how they work, just said go about your day like normal.
I’m like @MomofJandL–once I needed to put on readers over my contacts, I said the hell with it all, gave up my vanity, and switched to progressive bi-focals. I know some people have trouble adjusting to them, but I was fine from the minute I put them on, and frankly am just as happy no longer having to fuss with contacts. It’s ironic, because I was so committed to not wearing glasses (was always told that my eyes were my best feature) that I wore hard contacts from age 12, even though they were never comfortable and made my nose run pretty much all the time, and then in my twenties was in the first wave of soft contact wearers when I started with a doc who was running an FDA trial. Now there are tons of people I know who have never seen me without glasses. It’s amazing what we accommodate to with age!
I don’t want to be stuck with glasses because I hate them for running and other exercise. They get sweaty and fog up. I like my glasses as a backup to my contacts.
I had the monovision contacts for years–one eye for distance and one for near. The distance vision was always compromised. As I neared 50, I couldn’t read. I’m a CPA and do a ton of computer and close work.
I got the multi-focus contacts a year ago and it has been a huge improvement. There was no adjustment time for me. I still sometimes use a pair of cheap drugstore readers for tiny print or low-light situations.
@conmama,
Based on your post, your are myopic (nearsighted) and presbyopic and are set up for monovision by wearing one stronger “minus” contact on your distance eye and a less strong “minus” contact on your near eye. Everyone’s presbyopia (difficulty reading at near) will continue to change as you age, at least until one gets cataract surgery. Here are 2 solutions:
Get over the counter reading glasses to wear over both of your contacts. Bring something that you like to read and test out different strengths. But likely will be the mildest strength, say +1.50
Go to ophthalmologist or optometrist to get new refraction and a new contact lens for your near eye. It will now be an even weaker “minus”. Then you won’t need to wear reading glasses.
I wear bifocal contacts. They are great for both reading and distance, but I still need to use the light on my keychain or wear reading glasses in dark restaurants.
I have been wearing contacts and using over the counter readers for years. I’ve never had a problem with them. I have a pair of progressives that I wear in the evenings when my eyes are tired.
I wear one multifocal and one regular contact about 90% of the time. I still need my cell phone flashlight to read a menu in a dark restaurant. It was never suggested to me to have both contacts be multifocal. I tried regular contacts with reading glasses too, but settled on this method. When I drive long distances at night, I’ll switch to regular contacts.
I had to add the driving glasses when the difference between the near and distance corrections were too disparate. It is too disorienting to have them too different so the one contact isn’t quite perfect for distance but the other is perfect for reading and the glasses fix my night time driving.
I’ve worn contacts for 35 years due to severe nearsightedness, right eye worse than left. Contacts used to be custom made due to a peaked cornea. A different brand for each eye. Past 10 years or so no need for custom. I was thrilled because the cost came down substantially. The contacts used to make my vision good for near and distance. A year ago (on a college road trip no less!) I noticed I couldn’t see distance very well when driving - and really bad at night. My distance correction was no longer happening. I work with my hands, so the doc didn’t want to mess with the contacts and ruin the clarity for within 2 feet of my face. Got a script for glasses in addition to my contacts and I know this sounds bizarre, but I couldn’t be happier. Easy fix for me and they don’t distort my eyes or surrounding face! My family however thinks it is crazy that I now own contacts (one I change every 3 months, one every 2 weeks), coke-bottle glasses when contacts aren’t in, sunglasses and glasses for over-the-contacts!
Are the driving glasses good for other distance use? I went to the theater last night and had to close my close up eye to be able to focus on the actors’ faces. (I do need a new prescription.)
I always take mine to anything I want to see clearly at a distance including theater, sports events, even walking outside when I want to be able to spot birds better. They are the transitions type now so I do not need the sunglasses.
One eye seems to need reading glasses soon…