Is there any real benefit to prescription reading glasses over generic store brands?

For me there is, due to needing different prescriptions (of different strengths) in each eye. Try a pair off the shelf.. Your eyes will give you the answer to your question.

I have trouble seeing over a distance, but my eyes are very different. I would think a generic set what be rough on them if I needed them to read.

I have tested generic, off the shelf glasses and have found them to be exactly (well within 5%) as described. A +1.25 diopter lens measured at +1.25. +2.00 measured at +2.00!

Off the shelf glasses do not correct for astigmatism or for different strengths for each eye.

If you have a prescription you can have glasses made online for a relatively low cost. I do not have astigmatism but one eye is slightly different than the other so I had glasses made (with frames!) for less than $8 per pair. They too tested exactly as specified.
You can look them up or PM me if you want the company name.
Hint: the company name sound very much like “deni”.

I buy generics by the boatload. I have a bunch of different strengths for different tasks, and they serve me well. I pay about $2.00 per pair and I don’t worry about losing them or breaking them.

I wouldn’t – the cheapies don’t have the proper PD (pupillary distance) – distance between the eyes, so it might stain my eyes.

I also have mild astigmatism, which the cheapies don’t allow for.

Your mileage may vary.

I own two pairs of bifocals (one spare), one pair of bifocal sunglasses, one pair of computer glasses without the bifocal reading part, one pair of glasses for the piano and one pair for watching TV in bed semi-lying down. I have reused old frames for the ancillary ones, including frames belonging to my mother, but seeing well is an expensive hobby. Myopia and astigmatism and different scripts needed for each eye complicates things; I am often stunned that I can see all the things I do.

At the library, I cannot read the titles on the lowest shelves unless I lie on the floor on my side, but then because of my total knee replacement, I cannot stand up without a derrick.

The only real benefit is totally financial.

I have read one caveat, however. Some Drs. have warned about people who don’t accurately know what strength their eyes require using lenses which are stronger than necessary. This would hasten degeneration of the eyes.

As long as people are careful about using lenses too powerful for their needs, there doesn’t seem to be much else to worry about.

I need a prism in my right lens to provide a correction that OTC glasses don’t have. I do have a pair of store-bought reading glasses that I use for shaving… but they’re way inferior to my Rx glasses.

My husband has slightly different needs for each eye. He has a script pair of progressives that he uses at work. At home he uses the cheapy reading glasses.

@elbanditoroso You can have the glasses made up to match your astigmatism and pupillary distance. If you have a prescription you just enter the numbers and in 10 days the glasses arrive at your door.
My PD is 62mm. But I made a pair of special purpose close up glasses (+4.0!) and adjusted PD to 56 mm to account for my eyes being crossed 9–10 inches away. I use them for soldering.
I’m slightly farsighted so made up some -0.50 that I use while driving as exercise.
For reading I use +0.75.

The cost savings. As long as both of your eyes are equally bad, the store bought cheap glasses are just fine. I use two different ones. 2.00s are fine for reading the paper but 2.25s or 2.50s are better to see close up stuff like fine splinters. My dad needed prescription glasses for sure! He was nearsighted in one eye and farsighted in the other!

^^ How often do you need to remove fine splinters?

@gailcalled Often enough to have the other pair. But there are other things I need to see up close besides splinters. Threading sewing needles, etc.

I bought a perscription ones and they give me a headache if I wear them for too long. They are slightly stronger than I need. Then I bought over the counter ones and those are the ones I need to wear for daily reading. I use the prescription ones only for when I am sewing. I bought a set of reading glasses with LED lights and they were the clearest glasses I have ever bought plus the light helps when reading in bed.