Why You Should Replace Your Glasses
Replacing your glasses can be a chance to try a new look with fashionable frames or update your lenses with a coating to enhance their performance. However, sometimes you have a favourite pair you cherish, or a replacement is inconvenient. Regardless of how you feel about your glasses, there are times you need to replace them to maintain clear vision.
Regular eye exams can tell you when you need a prescription update, but how do you know when it’s time to get new glasses?
There are 2 common reasons why you should replace your glasses: vision changes and damaged glasses.
Vision Changes
Changes to vision and eye health can occur for various reasons. Some changes may be temporary, such as blurry vision caused by tired eyes. But some changes can be signs of eye disease or long-term vision problems. Routinely seeing your optometrist can help determine whether a severe condition is affecting your vision or you just need a prescription update.
Wearing outdated prescription eyeglasses won’t make your vision worse. However, you can experience symptoms. Some common symptoms indicating you might need an updated prescription include:
- Blurry or distorted vision
- Double vision
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Eye strain or fatigue
- Headaches
- Seeing halos around lights
- Squinting to see
If you notice vision changes or eye discomfort, contact us for an eye exam. We can evaluate your vision and determine if your old glasses are the problem.
Children vs Adults: Is There a Difference?
Children and adults experience life-long changes to eye health and vision. However, children’s eyes tend to change more frequently, which might mean more changes to their glasses!
Adults should change their glasses with the same frequency as eye exams—recommended every 2–3 years. School-age children should have annual eye exams. Depending on vision changes and how well they care for their glasses, children can keep their eyeglasses for 2–3 years.
Vision Changes & Digital Eye Strain
One condition that can blur the line between healthy vision and the need for new glasses is digital eye strain. Digital devices are convenient and are integral to how we work, communicate, and entertain. Yet, staring at digital screens for long hours every day can be exhausting for our eyes.
Digital eye strain can cause progressively worsening vision symptoms, even if you’ve never had previous vision difficulties. Most symptoms go away when you take a screen break, but sometimes a 5-minute coffee break at work isn’t enough to rest your eyes.
Common symptoms of digital eye strain include:
- Blurry vision
- Double vision
- Dry eyes
- Eye pain or irritation
- Eyestrain
- Excessive blinking
- Headaches
- Teary eyes
Untreated vision conditions can make computer use less comfortable, as your eyes need to focus harder to maintain clear vision. It’s also possible you don’t have the correct type of glasses for your screen.
Imagine wearing high-heeled shoes to go jogging. Your shoes might be right for some situations, but you might need a switch for specific tasks. Computer glasses are a type of task-specific lens customized for digital screens.
Your prescription might be accurate for most of your everyday tasks but unable to support the needs of close-vision work. Computer glasses can also be customized for people without don’t refractive errors, used solely to relieve digital eye strain.
Damaged or Scratched Glasses
Whether you damage your frames or lenses, every part of your glasses supports your vision. When the lenses are scratched or flawed, they may not accurately correct vision. And when your frames are damaged, they can change where your lenses sit, impacting their effectiveness.
Using your scratched or flawed lenses will not affect your vision long-term, but you can experience vision difficulties, including:
- Eyestrain
- Headaches
- Blurry vision (one or both eyes)
Some scratches, chips, and flaws are visible. But the damage you can’t see may interfere with the effectiveness of your glasses. Over time, your frames’ screws, nose pads, or temples (earpieces) can wear out or rust. Even improperly cleaning your lenses can erode the finish or scratch the lens.
Properly fitted glasses are essential for effective vision correction. A proper fit ensures your frames suit your face and the lenses are appropriately orientated. An improper fit, or a fit that’s changed because of wear, can cause:
- Dizziness
- Eyestrain
- Headaches
- Nausea
Your prescription may stabilize in adulthood, but you shouldn’t depend on one pair of glasses for the rest of your life. Replacing your eyeglasses every 2–3 years ensures your glasses are working the way they should.
Visit Us for Your New Glasses
When it’s time for your new pair, find your style with our wide selection of frames. Whether your prescription has changed or your frames are hanging by the hinges, we can help you find glasses you’ll love. All our children’s lenses have a 15-month warranty. We’ll replace the lenses for free if their vision changes between appointments! When you and your family need reliable service and affordable frames, book an appointment with West Coast Optical.
