Six Common Concerns When Changing to New Glasses

You know that glasses are a fashion accessory.

You all know the routine: go to your eye doctor, get a new prescription and choose your frames. Wait a week for your new glasses to arrive. The call comes, you pick up your glasses and slip them on, expecting to see the beauty of the world ..... But woah! It doesn't seem right.

New glasses, especially if they have new prescriptions, are not always the best for everyone. It is quite common for new glasses to require adjustment.

The new glasses you buy are not designed to improve your vision, reduce headaches, or increase your ability to focus. They can, however, have the opposite effect. You may feel as though you have the wrong prescription.

 

DON'T PANIC!

We have done extensive research to answer the most frequently asked questions regarding adjusting to new glasses.

 

Let's begin with what you first said after you put on your glasses.

 

My new glasses are strange.

Six major muscles and six nerves make up your eyes. These nerves and muscles work together to control light and impulses that gather thousands of images and send them to your brain. This causes the muscles to become weaker and can lead to the eyeball becoming harder. This reduced flexibility can make it harder to focus on close objects or switch between distant and up-close objects. Your eyes may change even with glasses. You will need to get new prescriptions to be able to see clearly without any discomfort.

A new pair is like a pair of shoes. These glasses look great and will help you. However, your body must adapt to them to be effective.

Many people experience blurred vision, headaches and distortion when they first put on glasses. Your brain takes some time to adjust to the new lenses.Your new prescription might be stronger than your old ones, so your brain will have to adjust from what it knows to what you see. Your field of vision when looking through new lenses may be different from your old lenses. Your brain and eyes may take some time to adjust.

 

Can new glasses make you feel dizzy?

People most commonly complain of feeling dizzy when they get new glasses. However, this sensation will pass quickly. When switching to multifocal lenses, such as bifocals or trifocals and progressives, it is more common for people to feel dizzy, lightheaded, and even nauseated.

Sometimes, new glasses can cause motion sickness-like symptoms. As your brain adjusts to new lenses, your brain sometimes experiences motion sickness when it is in contact with the surrounding space. This creates conflict between messages from your inner ear (which controls balance) and your eyes (which control vision). This combination can cause temporary dizziness.

It is not something you want to feel dizzy, especially if you are reading, working, or driving. However, the good news is that dizziness caused by new glasses is often temporary and should disappear within two to three days.

 

Are your new glasses causing you headaches?

New prescription glasses can cause headaches. Your new lenses may be causing your eyes to react differently to your prescription than they did in the past. Your old prescription has probably been worn for at least 2 years. Your eyes may strain as they adjust to new lenses. This adjustment period can take between 5 and 7 days for most people.

Even a small adjustment to your prescription can cause headaches or eye strain. Again, don't panic. Most likely, your discomfort is a normal response to your body adapting to the new lenses.

There are many things you can do to relieve headaches and make your eyes more comfortable while you adjust your vision.

• Keep your new glasses
  Refrain from switching back to your old glasses. Your headache may be due to your eyes straining to adjust your new lenses. To speed up your adjustment, it's best to use your new glasses as often as you can.
  
  
• Get some sleep for your eyes
  
  As with all muscles, your eye muscles will fatigue if they are strained for too long. If you feel a headache coming on or if your eyes feel tired, remove your glasses and close your eyes for a few moments.
  
  
• Use ibuprofen, or an OTC pain relief medication.
  
  A pain reliever that is available over-the-counter may be helpful in reducing minor headaches during the adjustment phase.

 

Your new prescription could cause damage to your eyes

Although it is possible that your new prescription may cause some discomfort while your eyes adjust, it is unlikely that your new lenses will cause any damage.

Although a new prescription may feel strange and require some adjustment, there is no danger to your eyesight. 

 

How long does it take for new glasses to become comfortable?

The ease of getting used to new glasses will depend on many factors. These include the type of lens, strength of the new prescription and current eye health.

If the lenses are worn daily, it takes approximately a week to adjust to a new pair. The adjustment process could be extended by wearing glasses for reading only or when you are using a computer to work.

However, progressives and multifocal lenses require longer adjustment periods to get used to. Optometrists recommend a two-week adjustment period in order to adjust to progressive lenses fully.

 

When is it a good idea to call your eye doctor?

Experts agree that you should allow your eyes to adjust for two weeks, unless you experience severe dizziness or migraines. Your eye doctor will need to verify your prescription and make sure the lenses you have are correct before you call your provider.

To speed up the adjustment process, remember to wear your glasses as often as you can.