In short, reading glasses should be used as much as is needed for adults over 40, Benjamin Bert, M.D., an ophthalmologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California says. “Many people feel that using the reading glasses has made their eyes ‘lazy,’ since they find themselves becoming more and more dependent on the reading glasses for their near vision,” he explains. “However, the process and progression of presbyopia will happen regardless of whether the reading glasses are used or not. Thus, it’s important to make yourself comfortable and not cause unnecessary eye strain.” And if you find that you are needing reading glasses at a younger age, or if you’re having difficulty focusing up-close and you’re under 40, it may be worth seeing your optometrist or ophthalmologist to have a refraction performed and see if you need prescription glasses, Dr. Bert adds.