7 Signs You May Need New Glasses
Wondering if it's time to update your eyeglasses prescription? You may notice a few of these signs if you need new glasses.
Blurry Vision
Blurry vision is the most noticeable sign that it's time for a new pair of glasses. If everything looks a little fuzzy, make an appointment with the eye doctor. During a comprehensive eye exam, your optometrist will test your vision and update your prescription as needed.
Eye exams provide important information about your visual and general health. For example, blurry vision isn't always related to your eyeglass prescription, but may be caused by cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
Near Vision Changes After 40
Almost 90% of people over 45 have presbyopia, an age-related vision problem, according to the American Optometric Association's Health Policy Institute. Presbyopia makes it hard to see clearly close-up. If you have to hold books and papers at arm's length, you may have presbyopia.
The problem happens when the normally flexible lens inside the eye stiffens with age. Luckily, reading glasses will make it easier to read, thread a needle, or do other close work. Bifocals, trifocals, or progressive lenses are a good idea if you don't want to switch between reading glasses and your regular glasses.
Fatigue
Does reading put you to sleep? Reading is hard work when you can't see as well as you once did. If you tire soon after starting a chapter or find yourself nodding off when you're surfing the web, an eyeglass update may be just what you need.
Eye Strain
Eye strain may be a clue that your vision has changed. Your eyes must work harder to provide good vision if you're don't have an up-to-date eyeglass prescription. As a result, you may experience:
- Sore, Red, Tired Eyes
- Burning or Itching
- Blurry or Double Vision
- Headaches
- Dry Eyes
- Watery Eyes
- Tight Shoulder, Upper Back, and Neck Muscles
- Sensitivity to Light
Although anyone can develop eye strain after visually intense work, you're more likely to experience symptoms if you need new glasses. If you've noticed eye strain symptoms after using devices with screens, a pair of computer glasses could improve your comfort.
Squinting
Is everything clearer when you squint? Squinting can be helpful when you need to see a road sign or read package instructions, but it's not a good long-term option. If you continue to squint, you may experience headaches and eye strain. Changing your eyeglass prescription will improve the sharpness of your vision and eliminate your need to squint.
Tilting Your Head
Vision changes don't always affect both eyes uniformly. One eye may change while the other stays the same, or the vision in one eye may change more than the other. If you've noticed you've been tilting your head to read, you may be unconsciously favoring the better eye. Test your vision by looking at a book or a screen and covering one eye at a time. If the vision in one eye is blurry, you may need new glasses.
Halos Around Lights
Changing vision could cause you to see halos around lights, particularly if you have a refractive error, like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Nearsightedness affects your ability to see objects in the distance clearly, while farsightedness makes close objects look blurry. Astigmatism affects your ability to see clearly at all distances, due to imperfections in the shape of the lens or the cornea covering the iris. Halos can also be a problem if you have dry eyes, eye strain, cataracts, or other eye conditions.
Ready for a new pair of glasses. Contact our office to schedule your visit with the optometrist.
Sources:
American Optometric Association: For 128 Million U.S. Presbyopes Doctors of Optometry Can Provide Treatment Options, 8/24/2023
National Eye Institute: Refractive Errors, 12/11/2024
https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/refractive-errors
Mayo Clinic: Eyestrain, 7/2/24
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eyestrain/symptoms-causes/syc-20372397
All About Vision: Blurry Vision, 3/4/2024
https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/symptoms/blurry-vision/overview-of-cloudy-vision/