The Best Glasses Chain for Women

Buying Guide

If you have trouble seeing your phone and reading restaurant menus, you aren’t alone. In fact, farsightedness is fairly common, especially among those over the age of 40. Known as presbyopia, it happens as a result of the lens of your eye becoming less flexible as you age.

If you wore contacts or had laser correction on your eyes for nearsightedness, the sudden loss of near vision can become an inconvenience. You can try multifocal contact lenses, but those can take some adjustment and aren’t a good fit for everyone.

Reading glasses give you vision correction when you need it without requiring you to wear glasses full-time. Some contact lens wearers even pair their reading glasses with their contacts to avoid making the switch to multifocal contacts. The best thing about reading glasses, though, is that you don’t even need a prescription. You can find reading glasses that are basically magnifiers at any grocery or drugstore.

But if you’ve ever owned a pair of reading glasses, you likely already know the biggest challenge that comes with them. Since you aren’t wearing them full-time, it’s easy to set them aside and lose them. Some reading glass wearers even have multiple pairs situated at strategic locations around the house to make sure they always have a pair nearby when they need it.

For decades, those who wear reading glasses have used a handy tool for keeping up with them. Eyeglass chains go around your neck like a lanyard, with two clips on each end that grip your eyeglass stems. When you’re wearing the glasses, the chain hangs down on the side, out of the way, but when you don’t need them, you simply fold the stems and let the reading glasses hang from your neck like a pendant.

• Take a close look at the grips at each end of the chain. You’ll want one that easily slides over your eyeglass stems while also gripping it tightly once in place. Ideally, you’ll find a glasses chain that doesn’t slip around while you’re using it.
• Eyeglass chains come in a variety of designs. You can find some that feature colorful beads and others that are more the traditional “chain” design, either in gold or silver tones. There are also knit or leather eyeglass chains that provide a little more comfort.
• Before you buy an eyeglass chain you’ll be wearing out of the house, consider your wardrobe. You’ll likely want something with a more neutral look that will match most of your clothing.
• Some eyeglass chains are sold in sets, letting you change up your look from one day to the next.
• Since the length of glasses chains can vary, use a measuring tape to see exactly where it will fall. You’ll want your glasses out of the way, especially if you sit at a desk all day. They could get crushed or broken if they fall at desk level. Even better, go for an eyeglass chain that’s adjustable so that you can choose the length that works for you.
• Some eyeglass chains come with decorative features like beads. If you opt for this type of chain, make sure the beads are designed so that they don’t fade over time. You could find your chain is looking a little dull after months of daily wear.
• Eyeglass chains have become popular over the past couple of years for keeping face masks handy. If you’re using it for that, take a close look to ensure the ends will unclasp so that you can tuck the edge of the face mask into it.