Ready readers are how people usually describe the spectacles that can be bought as ready to wear glasses in the high street or often in the spectacles rack at the airport……when you suddenly realize that you need glasses to read all those books that you have just bought

The glasses tend to be cheap because they are mass produced – like sunglasses – but crucially both lenses in the glasses are of the same prescription….usually the glasses are set for a range of +1 to +3 only in 0.25 increments.

Prescription reading glasses on the other hand are customised to each individual and each eye, and often contain a different prescription for each. They can also correct astigmatism if required.

The “Ready Readers” glasses off the shelf are made in bulk and do tend to be very cheap. The manufacturing process means that the frame is made in one piece, and so cannot be reused or have the lenses changed if any difficulty occurs such as a crack in the lens or a change in glasses prescription. Even the higher quality Ready Readers which may be made with metal frames do not have screws and so cannot be changed or easily adjusted.

Prescription glasses and frames can be reused if your prescription alters. The lenses are centred in front of your eyes with the PD (Pupillary Distance) , whereas RR are centred in the middle of your frame. Also prescription is by definition more accurate.

Because the strength of the lens in Ready Readers is an approximation (and frequently self-diagnosed), they tend to be less accurate and can cause eyestrain – although this will not cause any lasting damage to your eyes, it can become uncomfortable if using the glasses for extended periods