Changes in your eyewear prescription can appear in different ways. You may go a long time without noticing them, or they may have an immediate impact on your life. Staying on top of your eyewear prescription is important, so it’s vital to see us when you notice any changes.
Signs that it’s time to update your eyewear prescription include:
- Years since your last exam
- Damaged lenses
- Frequent headaches
- Squinting at digital screens
- Blurry vision
- Double-vision
- Dizziness or nausea
Signs It’s Time to Update Your Eyewear Prescription
1. Years since your last eye exam
The best way to avoid surprise changes in your vision is by getting annual eye exams. This allows us to check your:
- Visual acuity to test the sharpness of your vision
- Ocular motility to test your eye muscles for signs of strain
- Depth perception to see how well you judge the distance of objects
Comprehensive eye exams do more than allow us to update your prescription. They also help us check for other serious health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.
2. Damaged lenses
Damaged lenses can be a sign that you need to update your eyewear prescription for several reasons. Firstly, scratched or chipped lenses can distort your vision, making it difficult to see clearly. This distortion may cause you to strain your eyes or squint, potentially leading to headaches and eye fatigue.
Additionally, damaged lenses may indicate that your glasses are old, and your prescription might have changed since you last had an eye exam. Be sure to get your eyes checked every year, as vision can change gradually over time.
Continuing to use damaged prescription glasses can further strain your eyes, potentially exacerbating any existing vision problems. Ultimately, damaged lenses should prompt you to schedule an eye exam to ensure your prescription is up-to-date and your vision is properly corrected.
3. Frequent headaches
You can get headaches for a number of reasons, from colds to allergies to stress. However, if you wear prescription glasses or contacts, then frequent headaches may be a sign that it’s time for a new prescription. Eye prescriptions can change over time, but continuing to use an old prescription can cause eye strain, blurred vision, and discomfort. If you’re experiencing frequent headaches, then it may be time to schedule an eye exam.
It’s also possible that your frames may be the culprit for your headaches. The arms of your frames can pull against the back of your ears, becoming so uncomfortable that they cause headaches. These can usually be fixed with a simple adjustment at our optical shop. However, if your glasses didn’t fit correctly to begin with, then it’s time for new frames.
4. Squinting at digital screens
Staring at a computer screen at work or school all day can be tough on your eyes, especially when you’re taking occasional breaks to look at your phone. For many people, this results in a condition known as digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome.
Digital eye strain can leave you at the end of the day with:
- Tired eyes
- Headaches
- Trouble sleeping
This has led to more people giving high-quality blue light glasses a try. Medical research has been minimal, but many users swear by them. They’re also very affordable, making them easy to try without breaking the bank.
5. Blurry vision
Have you noticed your vision becoming more blurry recently? Maybe the text on your phone or letters in a book has become harder to make out? If so, then it may be time for a new prescription. Fortunately, you have a few great options to help you see clearly again.
You can try:
- Reading glasses
- Progressive lenses
- Updating your prescription
If you don’t need prescription eyewear, then a quality pair of reading glasses may do the trick. Progressive lenses provide the same benefits as bifocals or even trifocals without making you look older. If you’re nearsighted (myopia) and already wear glasses, then updating your prescription will clear up distant objects that appear blurred.
6. Double vision
Double vision can indicate a serious problem with your vision or even overall health. With a comprehensive eye exam, we can determine the source of your problem and get you the treatment you need.
If you suffer from strabismus, or crossed eyes, a new pair of eyewear may be needed that has more prismatic power. Increased prismatic power from prism lenses can help correct your alignment by deflecting light and preventing double vision.
7. Dizziness or nausea
When your prescription is outdated or incorrect, it can disrupt your depth perception and spatial awareness, similar to motion sickness, as your brain struggles to process visual information accurately. This mismatch between visual input and brain interpretation can lead to feelings of imbalance, causing dizziness and nausea.
Additionally, if you have recently started wearing new glasses with a significantly different prescription, your brain may need time to adjust to the new visual data, which can temporarily cause these symptoms. If dizziness persists, it is advisable to consult an eye care professional.
The best way to stay on top of your prescription is with regular comprehensive eye exams. If you haven’t had a recent eye exam, you may be experiencing eye strain, frequent headaches, or computer vision syndrome. Blurry vision may also indicate that your distance vision has changed, while double vision may indicate that your eyewear needs more prismatic power.
At Hardin Valley Eyecare & Optical, we offer a wide variety of eyeglass frames that provide both comfort and style. Our office also has a number of contact lenses to choose from, including daily lenses for ultimate comfort. With comprehensive eye exams, you can get an updated prescription while we check for any future vision or overall health issues.
Hardin Valley Eyecare & Optical has been serving Knoxville since 2009. Located at 10904 Spring Bluff Way, you can schedule an appointment online or call us at (865) 888-0892.
Editor’s Note: This blog was originally published in October 2021 and has been updated for clarity and comprehensiveness.
