A method 300 and device for visual compensation captures 330 an image using an imager, detects 360 whether eyeglasses are present in the image, and sets 363 an electronic visual display to a normal font size, if eyeglasses are detected as present in the image. If eyeglasses are not detected as present in the image, the electronic visual display is set 367 to a larger font size. The method and device can be triggered 320 (for example) by an incoming call or message, by a touch screen activation, a key press, or by a sensed motion of the device. The method can be repeated from time to time to detect whether a user has taken off eyeglasses (or put on eyeglasses) after the first image capture. The method and device compensates for users with presbyopia (and some other types of visual impairments) who intermittently wear glasses.