How to buy cheap/disposable/nonprescription/generic reading glasses in China?

How to buy cheap/disposable/nonprescription/generic reading glasses in China? - Young lady typing on keyboard of laptop in living room

Even though they're in a tough case, my reading glasses were broken when I pulled them out to fill in a hotel registration form a couple of nights ago here in China. My previous pair was nicked by a street kid in Vietnam, the pair before that I lost somehow in Japan on another trip.

Broken reading glasses
Dammit!

Because they are liable to get lost, broken, and stolen I like to buy cheap generic reading glasses. So far I've always bought them at Japanese discount store chains (100 yen shops) such as The Daiso.

Many cheap reading glasses to choose from in The Daiso in Vietnam
The huge range in a branch of The Daiso in Ho Chi Minh City.

  • I don't need prescription glasses. I only need magnification so I can read.
  • I could not care less about fashion. Ugly frames are great.
  • My Chinese is terrible. I'm not sure if 老花镜 (lǎo huājìng) is the everyday word for reading glasses or overly technical jargon like "presbyopic spectacles" in English.

I've looked in glasses shops but they never have English speakers and even the prices are confusing. There was something labelled "1 yuan" in one shop. They have things like two-for one deals. I don't even know if these places deal in non-prescription magnification-only glasses.

I've looked in discount shops with random junk but if they have anything close it's only magnifying glasses, and it turns out gorilla arm is a thing.

There are cheap sunglasses and "fashion" glasses sellers. The latter have glass that is either flat or otherwise doesn't alter the optical properties of the light. Ie, they are not really lenses.

I don't have a local friend to tag along and interpret for me.

Is there something like The Daiso in China? (I'm in Nanning heading to Guangzhou in a few days.)

If not, can glasses shops make really cheap reading glasses (a few bucks) and if so, what Chinese might I need to get through the process?

Photo of reading glasses and Chinese text from Wiki Commons
Help me be able to use my Chinese dictionary again!






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Is it OK to wear generic reading glasses?

"Reading glasses from a drugstore are in fact perfectly safe,\u201d says ophthalmologist Michelle Andreoli, M.D., a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, who notes that over-the-counter reading glasses, including low-cost dollar store options, can help you focus up close and will not damage your ...

Should I buy off the shelf reading glasses?

DON`T use off the shelf reading glasses for prolonged reading or computer work. They are only designed to be used for short intervals. Do not continue to wear any glasses that cause any blurriness, eyestrain or headaches.

Are glasses from China good?

Eyewear, like everything manufactured in China, has a bad \u201cMade in China\u201d stigma attached to it. There are thousands of people online that are quick to knock China for \u201cbad quality\u201d and \u201ccheaply produced\u201d products.

Does Daiso have reading glasses?

Daiso Japan Online Store - Reading glasses, tie design series, 3.50, 4 assort, 12pks.



Will These 5$ Prescription Glasses From China Make You Blind? 🤓🤓🤓




Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Vlada Karpovich, Josh Hild, Klaudia Ekert, Ylanite Koppens