Tips for Older Games Who Wear Reading Glasses

Over the years, studies have shown that playing video games has a positive impact on our brain functions. Our previous post on the subject highlighted how being an avid gamer can mean your brain may require less effort to activate and sustain attention on certain tasks — even difficult ones. The hippocampus, responsible for short-term and long-term memory, has also been shown to work more efficiently in long-term gamers.

It's no surprise, then, that gaming has become a favored pastime for many, regardless of age group. A 2024 study on video gaming in older people found that older adults saw a significant improvement in cognitive functions when trained with video games. Improvements were also recorded for depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and anxiety. Meanwhile, other studies note that older people also experienced improved memory and attention and saw favorable effects on daily life activities as a result of video game training.

Of course, gaming at an older age may feel completely different from gaming when younger. For one, older adults may need certain assistive tools, such as reading glasses, to better enjoy the gaming experience. In this post, we'll be sharing some tips for older gamers who need reading glasses:

The importance of reading glasses

If you're unfamiliar with reading glasses, they differ slightly from regular eyeglasses. These are often prescribed for older adults, as aging can lead to reduced or impacted vision and visual clarity. Unlike regular prescription glasses, readers aren't meant to be worn full-time as they can't correct your vision over time. Instead, reading glasses stop you from squinting or getting too close to the screen to see text or images that may be too small.

Nowadays, there are many types of readers glasses available on the market. Foster Grant, who specialize in readers, offer progressive MultiFocus™ reading lenses that eliminate the visible line typically seen in bifocals and conventional reading glasses. For avid senior gamers, Foster Grant also makes blue light readers, which can help reduce blue light exposure and prevent digital eye strain symptoms.

While reading glasses aren't meant to be worn all the time, older gamers may need them during long gaming sessions, depending on the game they play. If a lot of text and visual details are involved, reading glasses can help you see more clearly. However, gaming with readers can take some getting used to. Below are some tips for gaming while wearing reading glasses:

Update your prescription

As with regular prescription glasses, you should still schedule regular eye exams to check if your reading glasses are still right for you and your needs. Your vision changes over time, and your readers may need updating. Signs to watch out for include blurred vision when reading in-game texts and eye strain, fatigue, dryness, or even headaches.

Get anti-glare lenses

As mentioned, reading glasses come with various features and lens upgrades available today. An upgrade you may want to consider is anti-reflective coating, which can help reduce the glare from your computer screen or displays. These make the display simpler to read and improves your visual awareness. If your favorite readers don't offer anti-glare lenses, you can also consider replacing your gaming monitor with OLED monitors. LG's OLED displays are matte instead of glossy, which eliminates distracting light reflections.

Take occasional breaks

Finally, as previously mentioned, wearing reading glasses while gaming can take a while to get used to — even if you know you need them to be able to see clearly. Instead of giving up and gaming without your readers entirely, it's important to take things slow and take occasional breaks from the screen. After a while, you may find viewing in-game details through your readers isn't so bad or strange. If you start to feel dizzy or have headaches, take a breather and come back to the game when you're ready.