Ready-to-wear readers from +1.00 to +2.50 in one light frame weighing under 1 oz. Made for menus, labels, phones and small print, with an honest explanation of what each feature does.
$44.43 NZD
incl. GST · packs from $35.54 a pair
BlueLume Glasses are non-prescription reading glasses for near-vision tasks. They do not correct distance vision and are not for driving. The blue-light filter has not been shown to reduce digital eye strain. Have regular eye tests. Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Consumer Guarantees Act.
Not for driving, cycling or operating machinery. Never look at the sun through any glasses. Safety notes
The product
BlueLume Glasses are ready-to-wear reading glasses. Each lens has the same magnifying strength, from +1.00 to +2.50, to make close-up text and detail easier to see once your eyes find focusing up close harder.
Every pair also has a photochromic coating that darkens when it's exposed to UV light outdoors and clears again indoors, plus a blue-light filter. The frame is rimless and weighs under 1 oz, so it sits lightly through a long read.
They are a practical option for one job: seeing near things comfortably. They don't correct distance vision, they aren't for driving, and they don't replace an eye test. The rest of this page explains why, and helps you decide whether they suit you.
Why near vision changes
The lens inside your eye changes shape to focus on close objects. With age it gradually stiffens, so focusing up close gets harder. This is called presbyopia, and it's a normal part of getting older rather than a disease.
Most people start to notice it some time in their 40s. Common signs include holding your phone or a menu further away, needing brighter light to read, and tired eyes or headaches after close work. It usually keeps changing slowly into your 60s.
Reading glasses add magnification so close-up things come into focus without your eye working as hard. They help with the focusing problem only. They do nothing for the health of your eye, which is why regular eye tests still matter.
Reading glasses aren't enough. See an optometrist, and promptly for anything sudden.
Some eye care is publicly funded in New Zealand for eligible groups. Your optometrist or GP can tell you what applies to you.
Features
Here's what each part of BlueLume Glasses actually does, and where its limits are.
Both lenses have the same plus strength, chosen from +1.00 to +2.50. Higher numbers magnify more and suit a closer reading distance.
Because they're set for close range, anything beyond arm's length looks blurry. Look over the top or take them off when you walk around, and take care on steps and kerbs.
The coating darkens when UV light reaches it outdoors and clears again indoors, which makes reading outside more comfortable in bright conditions.
It clears more slowly than it darkens, darkens less in hot weather and clears more slowly in the cold. It isn't a sunglass rating.
The lenses filter part of the blue light from screens and lighting. Some people like the slightly warmer look it gives.
Research has not shown that blue-light filters reduce eye strain, improve sleep or protect the retina. See the evidence panel below.
The coating contains molecules that change shape when ultraviolet light hits them. In their changed shape they absorb more visible light, so the lens looks darker. Indoors, away from UV, they slowly return to their original shape and the lens clears.
Do transition-style lenses darken in the car? Very little. Car windscreens filter out most UV, so the trigger never arrives. That's one more reason reading glasses and driving don't mix.
Photochromic readers aren't sunglasses. For a day in the sun, wear sunglasses that meet AS/NZS 1067, and follow SunSmart advice.
Evidence
We include a blue-light filter because some people prefer it. But we'd rather you know what the research says before you buy.
The best summary so far is a 2023 Cochrane systematic review. It pulled together randomised trials of blue-light-filtering spectacle lenses and looked at eye strain, sleep and eye health.
So we don't claim BlueLume Glasses protect your eyes, reduce eye strain, or improve sleep. If screens leave your eyes tired, the habits on the right have better support.
Cochrane review, 2023
Blue-light-filtering lenses probably make little or no difference to eye strain from computer use, compared with standard lenses, over the short term.
Every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet (6 m) away for 20 seconds.
0:20
Look out the window
0:40
Blink slowly ten times
1:00
Stand up and stretch
1:20
Refill your water
Strength guide
Strength selection is a general guide. The simplest test is the chart on the right: print it, or use a page of small print, and hold it at the distance you normally read, around 40 cm.
As a loose pattern, many people start around +1.00 to +1.50 in their 40s and move higher over time, but plenty don't follow that pattern. Age is not a rule.
If you need more than +2.50, your eyes need different strengths, or no strength feels right, see an optometrist.
Specifications
We only list what our product information confirms.
Ready-made readers have the same strength in both lenses and assume a standard pupil distance and no astigmatism.
| Type | Non-prescription, ready-to-wear reading glasses |
|---|---|
| Strengths | +1.00, +1.25, +1.50, +1.75, +2.00, +2.25, +2.50 (chosen at checkout) |
| Use | Near-vision tasks only. Does not correct distance vision. |
| Coatings | Photochromic and blue-light filter on every pair |
| Frame weight | Under 1 oz (under about 28 g) |
| Style | Rimless lenses, silver-tone bridge, black temple arms |
| Not suitable for | Driving, cycling, machinery, children, looking at the sun |
| Returns | 30-day money-back on unused glasses |
| Consumer rights | Consumer Guarantees Act and Fair Trading Act apply |
What you actually get
Small print, phone screens and labels are easier to read at a comfortable distance.
The lenses darken in daylight, so reading on the deck or at the beach feels less glary.
A rimless frame under 1 oz that's easy to forget you're wearing.
Faceted rimless lenses and decorated hinges, rather than plain pharmacy plastic.
Compare
A fair comparison by type. Prices vary a lot between retailers and optometrists, so we haven't listed them.
| Feature | BlueLume Glasses | Typical pharmacy readers | Photochromic readers, specialist retailers | Prescription multifocals, optometrist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Near tasks, indoors and out | Near tasks indoors | Near tasks, indoors and out | Near, middle and distance |
| Corrects distance vision | No | No | No | Yes, to your prescription |
| Different strength per eye | No | No | Usually no | Yes |
| Corrects astigmatism | No | No | No | Yes |
| Photochromic option | Yes, every pair | Rarely | Yes | Usually available |
| Includes an eye-health check | No | No | No | Yes, with the eye test |
| Price | From $35.54 a pair in a pack | Varies | Varies | Varies, usually much higher |
Reading glasses get used in lots of places, so a spare often saves the hunt. That's the honest case for a pack. It's convenience, not extra vision features.
One by the couch
For books, puzzles and the TV guide.
One at work
No more carrying a single pair back and forth.
One in the bag
For menus and receipts. Not for wearing while you drive.
Share with family
Different strengths can be mixed in one pack.
Safety, care and limits
Pricing
More pairs means a lower price per pair. Share with family, keep a spare at the office, or stock up for the year. All prices in NZD, GST included.
Savings are calculated against our current single-pair price of $44.43.
Not sure? Use the printable reading chart. In multi-pair packs you can mix strengths at checkout.
Guarantee and returns
Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993. If something goes wrong, you may be entitled to a repair, replacement or refund depending on the problem. Our 30-day money-back guarantee is in addition to these rights.
Return unused glasses in their original condition within 30 days of delivery for a refund of the product price to your original payment method.
Contact us with your order number before sending anything back, and we'll confirm the return address and next steps.
If a pair is faulty, tell us. We'll put it right under the Consumer Guarantees Act and cover the return of faulty goods.
This does not affect your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act or the Fair Trading Act.
FAQ
BlueLume Glasses are non-prescription, ready-to-wear reading glasses for close-up tasks such as menus, labels, phones and small print. Every pair has a photochromic coating that darkens in UV light and a blue-light filter, in a lightweight frame that weighs under 1 oz.
No. They magnify things that are close to you. Anything beyond arm's length will look blurry through the lenses, so look over them or take them off for distance. They do not replace distance or prescription glasses.
No. BlueLume Glasses are not for driving, cycling or operating machinery. Reading lenses blur the road ahead, and the photochromic coating darkens very little behind a windscreen. They are also not for night driving.
Very little, if at all. Photochromic coatings need ultraviolet light to darken, and most car windscreens block UV. That is one reason they are not suitable for driving and are not a replacement for sunglasses.
The coating starts to darken when it is exposed to UV outdoors and clears again indoors. Clearing is usually slower than darkening, and both depend on how strong the UV is and on temperature: the lenses tend to darken less in hot weather and clear more slowly in the cold.
Not for eye strain, according to current evidence. A 2023 Cochrane review (Lawrenson et al.) found that blue-light-filtering spectacle lenses probably make little or no difference to digital eye strain compared with standard lenses, and found no clear evidence about sleep or eye health. We include the filter, but we do not claim it protects your eyes or improves sleep.
Hold our reading chart, or a page of small print, at your usual reading distance (around 40 cm) and pick the lowest strength that makes the text clear and comfortable. Strength selection is a general guide only. If you need more than +2.50, or none of the strengths feels right, see an optometrist.
Ready-made readers have the same strength in both lenses and assume a standard distance between your pupils and no astigmatism. If your eyes need different strengths, or you have astigmatism, prescription glasses from an optometrist will suit you better.
No. Ready-made readers do not check the health of your eyes. Regular eye tests can pick up conditions such as glaucoma, cataract and diabetic eye disease early. See an optometrist promptly if you notice sudden changes, flashes, floaters, eye pain or double vision.
We do not make a UV-protection or sunglass claim for BlueLume Glasses. The photochromic coating reacts to UV, but that is not the same as a tested UV rating. For sun protection outdoors, wear sunglasses that meet AS/NZS 1067, and never look directly at the sun.
Rinse off dust with lukewarm water, then wipe gently with a clean microfibre cloth and lens spray. Avoid paper towels, clothing, hot water and leaving them in a hot car, as heat and rough fabrics can damage the coatings.
You can return unused glasses within 30 days of delivery for a refund under our money-back guarantee. Contact us first and we will confirm the return details. This does not affect your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act, which cannot be excluded.
The frame weighs under 1 oz, which is under about 28 g, so it sits lightly for reading sessions.
We deliver to addresses throughout New Zealand. Prices include GST, and the full total for your order is shown before you pay.
Light, rimless readers that darken outdoors. Choose your strength, choose your pack, and keep a pair wherever you read.
From $44.43 for one pair, or $35.54 a pair in a five-pack. NZD incl. GST.
Sources & references
Public sources for the health, legal and technical statements on this page.