While a person is able to purchase an inexpensive pair of glasses or even sunglasses at most drug stores or department stores, these "glasses" really are nothing more than two magnifying glasses cut and fitted into a eyeglass frame. If these meet your needs for reading fabulous, however, in most cases these glasses do not have a magnification or corrective power that is close enough to what your eyes need to allow you to see clear enough for driving or for regular daily activities. If you try to use the wrong strength glasses on a full time basis they will increase the strain placed on your eyes and cause further distortion of your vision.
To avoid further damaging your eyes you need to visit with your optometrist on a regular basis, or as you notice that your vision is changing. Visiting your optometrist will not only give you the most accurate eyeglass prescription, but it will also help to identify eye diseases early, allowing time to treat the problem before it damages the structures of your eyes. It also allows you to address different eye corrective needs of your two eyes.