When you get new glasses, you’re excited about clearer, crisper vision. But sometimes, new glasses can bring about uncomfortable symptoms. This may include blurry vision, double vision, and headaches. These symptoms may happen because your frames don’t fit correctly, your prescription is incorrect, or more time is required to adjust to your new glasses.
The transition to new glasses can take a while, but if you notice double vision, contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible. While double vision is often temporary, it can also signal more serious problems.
What Is Double Vision?
Double vision (or diplopia) means seeing two images of one object, either side by side (horizontal) or one above the other (vertical). Double vision can be categorized into two main types:
- Monocular diplopia: This is when you experience double vision when you close one eye. It is more common, but it tends to be less serious.
- Binocular diplopia: This type of double vision occurs when both eyes are open and disappears when either eye is closed. It’s more serious and often means your eyes aren’t working together properly.
Double vision can be caused by many things, from head trauma and cranial nerve problems to refractive errors and glasses that don’t fit properly. The condition can also occur due to factors affecting the brain, eyes, and the nerves and muscles around these systems.
When to Get Help
If your double vision lasts more than a couple of hours or comes with other worrying symptoms such as pain, dizziness, slurring, disorientation, or muscle weakness, seek medical help immediately. Sometimes, double vision can signal a more serious problem, like a stroke, so take it seriously.
Our team at Total Vision Novato offers emergency eye care, so if you have questions or concerns, contact us during office hours. Outside of office hours, visit your nearest emergency room.
Stay Safe: Don’t Drive
Double vision isn’t just inconvenient. It’s unsafe. If you notice double vision, don’t drive, cycle, operate machinery, or do anything that depends on clear vision until the issue is resolved. If you need to visit an optometry clinic or emergency room, ask someone to drive you or take a taxi or Uber.
Problems Associated with New Glasses
When you get new glasses, your brain and eyes need time to adjust. Upon first wearing your new glasses, you may experience uncomfortable symptoms like:
- Problems with depth perception
- Blurry vision
- Eye strain and fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Headaches
Some people, especially those who use high-plus lenses, experience barrel distortion. Meanwhile, people who use high-minus lenses are more likely to experience a fishbowl effect.
Other reasons why you may experience discomfort from new glasses include:
- Frames that don’t fit: How your frames fit to your face may be to blame for headaches. If your frames are too tight around your nose or behind your ears, you can get a headache. Often, this can be fixed by simply bringing your glasses to the optician to get the frames refitted.
- Muscles needing time to adjust: Your eyes contain muscles that need to learn how to operate in their new environment. This can cause eye strain symptoms like a headache.
- An incorrect prescription: Mistakes can happen. A measurement error may cause the wrong prescription to be applied to your glasses, leading to blurry vision or headaches. If your headaches last for longer than a few days, see your optometrist to double-check your prescription.
Bifocals, trifocals, and progressives may be particularly challenging to adjust to.
Tips for Adjusting to New Glasses
Adapting to a new prescription can be a bumpy ride, but there are things you can do to ease the transition.
Keep Wearing Your New Glasses
Consistency is essential. Give your eyes (and brain!) a steady chance to adapt to your new way of seeing. Resist the temptation to wear your old glasses.
Give Your Eyes a Break
You should wear your glasses often to allow your eyes to adjust, but it’s okay to take short breaks throughout the day. Sit in a dim or dark room for fifteen minutes with your eyes closed, or apply a cool compress. This can help manage headaches.
Keep Screen Time Manageable
Glare from computer and phone screens can make symptoms worse. If you use screens for long periods of time, consider getting anti-reflective lens coatings. These coatings can minimize the glare from a computer screen and make long hours at work more comfortable.
Talk to Your Optometrist
Finally, symptoms like headaches, blurry vision, and feeling dizzy shouldn’t last longer than two days. If they do, contact your optometrist. They can check your prescription and frame fit to pinpoint the cause or even examine your eye health if your symptoms are more worrisome.
Trusted Eye Care & Eyewear in Novato
Your eyesight matters. If you have any concerns or questions about your eye health and vision needs, our team at Total Vision Novato is happy to help. We offer comprehensive eye exams for patients of all ages, contact lens fittings, and a wide selection of frames, lenses, and brands. You can also order your contact lenses online.
You use your vision every day for work, play, and everything in between, so protect your eyes. If you’re experiencing an eye emergency, contact us or go to your nearest emergency room. Even if you’re healthy, it’s still important to get regular eye exams. So book an appointment with us today.
