EYE HEALTH TOOLS / CHECKLIST
Reading setup checklist
Check five practical details and get a short list of changes to try. This is a comfort checklist, not a vision test or a glasses prescription.
Loading your tool…
BEYOND THE TOOL
Make reading easier on your day.
A comfortable reading space should make the words easy to see without constant squinting, leaning, or fighting reflections. Start with the place you actually use, whether that is a desk, sofa, or kitchen table.
Put useful light on the page
A task lamp can direct light onto a book or other close work. Position it so the light reaches the page without shining into your eyes. Larger print and stronger contrast can also make information easier to see. For example, dark letters on a plain, light background may be easier to read than faint text on a busy image. 2
Adjust the task to suit your position
For screen reading, enlarge the text and adjust brightness and contrast so the display is comfortable in the room. Reduce glare and take pauses during long stretches of close work. Move the material or change the setup if you keep leaning forward. These are comfort adjustments, not exercises that correct a vision problem. 1
Use the checklist to look at five parts of your usual setup. There is no prize for getting every item right. A short list of practical changes is useful even if you can only try one today.
When larger text is not the whole answer
As the eye’s natural lens becomes less flexible with age, focusing on nearby things can become harder. This is called presbyopia. You may notice yourself holding reading material farther away. Better light and larger print can help with some tasks, but an eye examination is needed to check your vision and discuss suitable correction. This checklist cannot choose a reading-glasses strength or explain every cause of blur. 3
ONE SMALL NEXT STEP
Try one change at a time: move a lamp, enlarge the text, or change your position. Notice which adjustment makes the task easier.
A more comfortable setup
Practical adjustments based on your answers. This checklist cannot measure vision or choose a glasses prescription.
Your answers stay with you
The tool works in this page. It does not save your answers or send them to the clinic. Reloading the page clears them.
If you share an image, its visible summary goes to the app or people you choose. The tool link does not include your answers.
Sources & important notes
The patient guidance below informs this educational checklist and the article on this page. Numbered references link to the original guidance. Source information checked 26 September 2026.
A little more clarity.
Calculator · 1 minute
Screen break calculator
Turn screen time into a simple break plan.
Planner · 2 minutes
Eye visit planner
Know what to bring and what to ask.