Adjustable eyeglasses are a convenient solution. They won’t replace your regular glasses, but they work great in a pinch and make some activities much easier.
Adjustable glasses are a versatile and affordable solution to correcting minor vision problems. They compensate for presbyopia and other refractive errors like farsightedness and nearsightedness. They are non-prescription glasses designed for everyday use.
With traditional lenses such as bifocals and progressives, different portions of the lenses offer different types of correction. You’ll look through the top to look far away and look down for objects near you.
With adjustable glasses, you have one focal length that varies depending on where you are looking.
These glasses feature adjustment dials for far- and nearsighted correction in one pair of glasses. This allows for adjustment to help with focus so wearers have improved vision whether they are reading, driving, or using their eyes in other ways.
Types of Adjustable Glasses
There are a few different types of adjustable glasses.
Keep in mind, these glasses are similar to bifocals in that they allow wearers to see near and far. However, they are less expensive and available without a prescription.
Adjustable Reading Glasses
Adjustable reading eyeglasses have an adjustable focal length and compensate for refractive errors. They provide variable focusing so that you can adjust them for desired distance or prescription, or both.
They are great for reading because you don’t need to adjust the position of your eyes.
Adjustable Focus Glasses
Adjustable focus glasses offer an adjustable focal length. This compensates for refractive errors, including presbyopia. They provide variable focusing, which allows you to adjust the glasses for seeing things close up or far away.
Adjustable Focus Reading Glasses
Adjustable focus reading glasses are the same as adjustable reading glasses. You adjust the dials of the glasses so you don’t need to reposition your eyes to see close up or far away.
Myopia is a common refractive error. It impairs your ability to see far-off objects. It happens because the eyeball is too long or has too much cornea curvature. This causes vision to blur when you are looking at things in the distance.
Adjustable glasses feature fluid-filled lens technology that lets you adjust the power of the lens based on the correction level you need. You twist the dial until you achieve optimal visual acuity. This is why they are sometimes called dial vision glasses.
Each of the lenses on adjustable glasses has a membrane that moves outward or inward based on how much fluid the lens contains.
The liquid comes from a small syringe connected to each arm of the glasses. You move the dial to pump fluid in or out of the lens. As fluid enters the lens, the lens’s power increases. This corrects farsightedness. Pumping the fluid out corrects nearsightedness.
Pros and Cons of Adjustable Eyeglasses
Adjustable eyeglasses offer a variety of benefits, but they aren’t right for everyone. They offer convenience, but they tend to not work as well as prescription-strength glasses.
These glasses can be found at many retail stores and online from Amazon. Many of the benefits and drawbacks of adjustable glasses vary based on the brand, so make sure you research your options before choosing which option is best for you.
If you’re considering investing in a pair of adjustable glasses, consider the following:
Pros
The pros of adjustable glasses include:
Affordability
No need for a prescription or eye exam
Individual lens adjustment
Durability
Many brands offer both magnification and blue light filtering capability to protect your eyes from screen damage
Cons
The cons of adjustable glasses include:
Usually not as attractive as traditional lenses
Quality doesn’t match most prescription glasses
Can be difficult to adjust
Easily scratched
Some users struggle with distance lens use
Who Benefits From Adjustable Glasses?
Anyone needing visual correction benefits from variable focus or adjustable glasses. These glasses provide clear vision at an affordable price without a prescription.
Despite the benefits, these glasses aren’t for everyone.
One of the communities proven to benefit most from adjustable glasses is people, in particular children, living in low-income communities.
Multiple medical studies have shown that adolescence in rural China found that adjustable glasses improved vision for about 95% of the kids who received the glasses.
Adjustable glasses are an affordable option for communities that otherwise cannot afford vision correction devices.
Brands That Sell Adjustable Glasses
Several different brands offer adjustable eyeglasses, including:
Eyejusters
Eyejusters replace traditional reading glasses. The brand offers glasses that change focus with the simple twist of a dial. Glasses offer a strength correction range of +0.50 to +4.00. They offer durable and scratch-resistant unisex styles.
The company has offered adjustable reading glasses since 2016 and claims to replace all of your over-the-counter reading glasses. The dials on Eyejusters are hidden and don’t interfere with the look of the glasses.
They have two separate dials – one on each side – so you can attain the proper balance of focusing power. These glasses also come in a variety of colors, frame designs, and materials.
Dial Vision
Dial Vision offers adjustable glasses for nearsightedness and farsightedness. They have dials on both arms for individual lens adjustment. There is no need for a prescription to buy these glasses and they are much more affordable than traditional prescription lenses.
Global Vision
Global Vision offers a wide range of affordable adjustable eyewear. These glasses are more functional than stylish. If you’re looking for a convenient option that allows you to see close and far away, these are a great option.
You can find Global Vision adjustable glasses for as little as $5 to $10 online. Most pairs cost less than $20.
Adlens
Adlens offers adjustable glasses that feature a compound lens system. This lets you focus on objects at any distance without removing your glasses or adjusting your eye position.
The technology features two thin, wave-shaped plates that slide across each other when you turn the knob on the frame of the glasses. The position of the two plates adjusts the overall power of the lens.
These glasses offer vision correction levels ranging from -6 to +3. They work well for reading or computer use and also help manage the fluctuating vision needs associated with certain health conditions, including diabetes.
How Much Do Adjustable Eyeglasses Cost?
Adjustable eyeglasses cost much less than traditional prescription vision correction. The average cost of adjustable glasses is about $25.
Some brands offer adjustable eyewear for less than $5 a pair.
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Best Places to Buy Glasses
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Warby Parker has stylish, high-quality frames at affordable prices.
Melody Huang is an optometrist and freelance health writer. Through her writing, Dr. Huang enjoys educating patients on how to lead healthier and happier lives. She also has an interest in Eastern medicine practices and learning about integrative medicine. When she’s not working, Dr. Huang loves reviewing new skin care products, trying interesting food recipes, or hanging with her adopted cats.
Kelly Brown is a content writer for Vision Center. Her goal is to share important information so people can make the best decisions about their vision health. From choosing the best eye doctor to managing health issues that affect vision, she hopes to share what she learns through informative content.
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