Getting Used to New Glasses

It’s common to need a little time to adjust to a new pair of prescription glasses. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been wearing glasses your entire life or if you’re wearing them for the first time; everyone can experience a few issues in the first couple of weeks. There are some things you can do to make the process a little easier.

What’s in this article?

• How long does it take to get used to new glasses?
• Can new glasses give you a headache?
• Adjusting to new glasses – symptoms
• Tips for getting used to glasses
• Choose Feel Good Contacts for stylish affordable glasses

How long does it take to get used to new glasses?

Usually, it takes 2-3 days to get used to your new glasses, however it can sometimes take up to two weeks to adjust. This can particularly be the case when adjusting to varifocals for the first time, as people can find it difficult to get used to which direction to look at to see the correct prescription for the distance they require.

Can new glasses give you a headache?

A lot of people can experience a ‘new glasses headache’, but it should only last for a few days. The migraine is caused by your eyes having to work harder to adjust to your new prescription eyeglasses.

Adjusting to new glasses - symptoms

Here are some of the symptoms you might experience when you’re adjusting to wearing new glasses:

• New glasses eye strain
• Nausea
• Difficulty focusing (when wearing the glasses)
• Lack of depth perception
• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness
• Fishbowl vision (clear vision in the centre and bent vision at the sides)

These symptoms are usually mild and shouldn’t last for a long time. The fishbowl effect on vision specifically is more common when changing to a higher prescription.

Tips for getting used to glasses

Here are some of our top tips for adjusting to your new spectacles.

Wear your new glasses all the time

The more you wear your new glasses, the faster you will adjust. Try not to wear your old glasses at all. If you’re experiencing uncomfortable symptoms from wearing the new frames, try to increase the amount of time you wear them a little bit more every day.

Move your head instead of your eyes for varifocals

With multiple prescriptions in one lens, getting used to knowing which way to look for which distance can be tricky. Try to move your head and your eyes together instead of moving your eyes only to see if that makes things easier.

Ensure the glasses fit properly

The frame shouldn’t extend too far beyond the sides of your face, the weight of the frame should be evenly distributed on the nose and both ears. It’s important that the lenses are centred with the pupils of your eyes (your pupillary distance will help with this), if the frame is too wide for your face, then this alignment will be incorrect.

Get your prescription adjusted if needed

Getting used to new prescription glasses shouldn’t take longer than a few weeks, if you’re experiencing issues beyond that timeframe, see your optician to check if your prescription needs adjusting.

Choose Feel Good Contacts for stylish affordable glasses

You don’t have to buy glasses from your local optician. You’re entitled to a copy of your prescription which you can then use to buy glasses online for less. Simply choose your preferred frame, enter your prescription details, and choose your lens package, then checkout. For all your other eye care needs such as contact lenses, designer sunglasses and eye care products find them at Feel Good Contacts for affordable prices. Why not add a sun tint or Transitions lenses at the checkout to create prescription sunglasses with added UV protection?

Disclaimer: The advice in this article is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical care or an in-person check-up. Please check with an eyecare professional before purchasing any products or remedies. For information on our article review process, please refer to our Editorial Policy.