{"id":9687,"date":"2021-01-28T17:57:36","date_gmt":"2021-01-28T17:57:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=9687"},"modified":"2021-07-15T08:13:21","modified_gmt":"2021-07-15T08:13:21","slug":"how-do-reading-glasses-help-children","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-childrens-eye-exams\/how-do-reading-glasses-help-children\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do Reading Glasses Help Children?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Has your optometrist prescribed reading glasses for your child?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>When people think of reading glasses, they generally think of older adults with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/optical\/presbyopia\/\">presbyopia<\/a>\u2014 a condition that naturally occurs with age and requires the use of reading or computer glasses to see clearly.<\/p>\n<p>Reading glasses for children, typically referred to as<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-for-school\/what-are-low-plus-lenses\/\"> \u201clow plus\u201d lenses<\/a>, are not prescribed for the same reason as they are for older adults, but rather to support the focusing skills necessary for near vision activities.<\/p>\n<p><b>Low plus lenses are also called \u201csupport lenses\u201d or \u201cstress-relieving lenses\u201d, as they help to reduce the amount of focusing effort required for reading, writing, computer use and even classroom learning.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why do optometrists prescribe low plus lenses?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Your child\u2019s optometrist may recommend low plus lenses for any of the following vision conditions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/what-is-long-sightedness\/\"><b>Farsightedness.<\/b><\/a> Children who are farsighted often have difficulties seeing near objects and images clearly. As a result, their eyes need to exert extra effort to obtain clear vision while reading and performing other near vision tasks\u2014 often leading to eyestrain, headaches and fatigue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Low plus lenses provide clear vision while supporting the eyes\u2019 focusing muscles and reducing the amount of effort needed to maintain clear and comfortable vision.<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Focusing support. <\/b>Children who have focusing difficulties often complain of headaches and eyestrain when performing near vision tasks, such as reading and computer work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Low plus lenses lower the amount of focusing effort required, reduce the stress on the eyes and enable clear and comfortable vision.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>If your child is reading below grade level, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\"><b>contact an eye doctor<\/b><\/a> near you who can diagnose and treat any visual issues impacting your child.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SEE RELATED:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-childrens-eye-exams\/how-to-improve-your-childs-reading-skills\/\">How to Improve Your Child\u2019s Reading Skills<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"practice-search-widget\">\n\t\t<h3>Find an eye doctor for children near you<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<form class=\"practice-search-form practice-search-form-widget\" action=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/results\/\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page\" class=\"practice-search-page\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_latitude\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_longitude\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"address\" class=\"practice-search-address\" placeholder=\"City, Surburb or Address\" value=\"\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<button type=\"submit\" class=\"practice-search-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.6796 0.130005C9.15708 0.130059 7.66615 0.5646 6.38198 1.38258C5.09781 2.20057 4.07373 3.36803 3.43004 4.74783C2.78634 6.12763 2.54976 7.66246 2.74808 9.17205C2.9464 10.6816 3.57139 12.1033 4.54964 13.27L0.729639 17.08C0.6364 17.1732 0.562439 17.2839 0.511979 17.4058C0.461519 17.5276 0.435547 17.6581 0.435547 17.79C0.435547 17.9219 0.461519 18.0524 0.511979 18.1743C0.562439 18.2961 0.6364 18.4068 0.729639 18.5C0.917942 18.6883 1.17334 18.7941 1.43964 18.7941C1.5715 18.7941 1.70207 18.7681 1.82389 18.7177C1.94571 18.6672 2.0564 18.5932 2.14964 18.5L5.99964 14.62C7.35406 15.6038 8.98566 16.1324 10.6596 16.13C12.7814 16.13 14.8162 15.2871 16.3165 13.7869C17.8168 12.2866 18.6596 10.2517 18.6596 8.13C18.6596 6.00827 17.8168 3.97344 16.3165 2.47315C14.8162 0.97286 12.7814 0.130005 10.6596 0.130005H10.6796ZM10.6796 14.13C9.49295 14.13 8.33291 13.7781 7.34622 13.1188C6.35952 12.4595 5.59049 11.5225 5.13636 10.4261C4.68224 9.32975 4.56342 8.12335 4.79493 6.95946C5.02644 5.79558 5.59788 4.72648 6.437 3.88736C7.27611 3.04825 8.34521 2.4768 9.5091 2.24529C10.673 2.01378 11.8794 2.1326 12.9757 2.58673C14.0721 3.04085 15.0092 3.80989 15.6685 4.79658C16.3277 5.78328 16.6796 6.94332 16.6796 8.13C16.6796 9.7213 16.0475 11.2474 14.9223 12.3726C13.7971 13.4979 12.2709 14.13 10.6796 14.13Z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"practice-search-use-my-location\">\n\t\t\tSearch near me\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\n\t<\/form>\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2><b>Are there different types of low plus lenses?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Yes. A low plus lens can be prescribed as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/optical\/guide-to-optical-lenses\/optical-lenses-for-children\/\">single vision lens, bifocal or a multifocal lens<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A <b>single vision lens<\/b> contains a single power for either distance or near vision, while a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/eye-care-for-children\/what-are-bifocal-glasses\/\"><strong>bifocal<\/strong> <\/a>or <b>multifocal lens<\/b> contains various powers for both distance and near vision.<\/p>\n<p><i>Bifocal or multifocal lenses may be prescribed if your child already wears optical lenses for distance vision, but also requires low plus lenses to support their near vision.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>Low plus lenses may also be prescribed in combination with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/neuro-optometry\/what-are-prism-lenses\/whats-the-deal-with-prism-lenses\/\">prism lenses<\/a> which help to further reduce the stress on the visual system.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Who can benefit from low plus lenses?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Recent research has shown that wearing low plus lenses while reading significantly reduces the strain on the visual system, while improving reading fluency, speed, intonation, and comprehension.<\/p>\n<p><b>Low plus lenses can be a powerful support for children with focusing difficulties, reading or learning difficulties, attention issues, <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy-for-lazy-eye\/amblyopia-lazy-eye\/\"><b>lazy eye<\/b><\/a><b> and <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy-for-special-needs\/vision-and-special-needs\/\"><b>special needs<\/b><\/a><b>.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><b>Will my child <\/b><b><i>always <\/i><\/b><b>need reading glasses?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>No. As your child\u2019s eyes develop and mature, their focusing skills will likely mature as well\u2014 eliminating the need for reading glasses.<\/p>\n<p>Vision therapy can further improve your child\u2019s focusing skills, along with any other visual skills that may need strengthening. Moreover, a program of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-to-vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-faqs\/the-dos-and-donts-of-vision-therapy\/\">vision therapy<\/a> can help to reduce your child\u2019s chances of needing reading glasses in the future.<\/p>\n<p><strong>LEARN MORE:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-childrens-eye-exams\/\">Guide to Children\u2019s Eye Exams<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you think your child c<\/strong><strong>an benefit from low plus lenses, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\">schedule an eye exam<\/a> with an optometrist.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Through a comprehensive evaluation of your child\u2019s vision and visual skills, your eye doctor can determine if low plus lenses can improve your child\u2019s vision\u2014 to make reading and learning easier and more enjoyable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Has your optometrist prescribed reading glasses for your child?\u00a0When people think of reading glasses, they generally think of older adults with presbyopia. Reading glasses for children, typically referred to as &#8216;low plus&#8217; lenses, are not prescribed for the same reason as they are for adults, but rather to support the focusing skills necessary for near vision activities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1206,"featured_media":9688,"parent":12318,"menu_order":18,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-article.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[197,452,186,113,497,385,386,384,343,490,83,101],"class_list":["post-9687","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-bifocals","tag-farsightedness","tag-focusing","tag-lazy-eye","tag-low-plus-lenses","tag-multifocals","tag-optical-lenses","tag-presbyopia","tag-prisms","tag-reading-and-learning","tag-vision-therapy","tag-visual-skills"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How Do Reading Glasses Help Children? - Optometrists.org<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-childrens-eye-exams\/how-do-reading-glasses-help-children\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Do Reading Glasses Help Children? - Optometrists.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Has your optometrist prescribed reading glasses for your child?\u00a0When people think of reading glasses, they generally think of older adults with presbyopia. 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