7 Signs It’s Time for a New Glasses or Contacts Prescription

Even if you’re already wearing corrective glasses or contact lenses for your vision, aging will naturally affect your eyes. Diseases like cataracts and glaucoma can worsen your eyesight, and conditions such as myopia, farsightedness, and astigmatism require constant monitoring.

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That is why it’s essential to schedule regular check-ups, even if your vision looks healthy enough. It’s recommended to consult an optometrist to schedule an eye exam at regular intervals to keep up with your eye health and prescription.

Here are some signs that you may be overdue for an update on your prescription:

1. Things Look Blurry

If you are suddenly struggling to see things because they appear as though they are out of focus, and you need to blink a lot to distinguish things better, schedule a check-up immediately. A simple change or update in your glasses or contact lens prescription can correct blurry vision in many cases.

However, blurry vision can also be the initial symptom of a more serious illness, such as cataracts.

2. Seeing Double

Double vision is when you suddenly start to see two images of an object that should be a single object. The images may appear on top of each other or side by side, forcing your brain to compensate and resulting in vertigo and nausea.

If you start to see double, don’t wait to see an optometrist. This symptom may be a sign of out-of-date prescriptions.

3. Feeling The Fatigue

If you have been feeling fatigued lately despite no changes in your routine, you may be experiencing symptoms of a condition called asthenopia, commonly known as tired eyes. Asthenopia results from the excessive use of the eyes. You can minimize the effects by taking breaks to close your eyes and let them rest.

An outdated prescription can also cause asthenopia, but only an optometrist can make a proper diagnosis.

4. You Experience Frequent Headaches

Sharp pain in the head, usually in the area around the eyes, can signal that you are straining your eyes more than you should. This kind of headache typically manifests when reading a book or looking at screens for extended periods.

However, another common cause for the headache is an outdated prescription of glasses or contact lenses, where the eye muscles have to work harder than usual.

5. You Find Yourself Squinting to See

The habit of squinting is an almost instinctive reaction since closing the eyelids a little can limit the entry of light, thus helping the eyes obtain a clearer image. Although it’s common, people who wear glasses or contacts should not squint frequently.

If you find yourself frequently squinting to see, your prescription may no longer be sufficient to correct vision. Squinting may help a little, but postponing a visit to the optometrist will worsen the situation.

6. You Can’t See Distances You Could In The Past

The ability to see distant objects without having to adjust or strain your eyes will generally diminish with age.

However, be alert if things in the distance start to become too blurry even when using corrective eyewear. The inability to see distant objects despite wearing glasses or contact lenses may be a case of myopia. An optometrist can identify this condition and prescribe corrective treatment or a new prescription of glasses.

7. Dramatically Increased Screen Time

With more people working from home, more time is spent looking at computer screens or other digital devices such as smartphones. A common sign that you may be exposing your eyes to screens (and their blue light) more frequently than recommended includes spending a lot of time fiddling with the computer’s screen settings, believing the display is either too dim, too bright, or out of focus.

As a result, you may need to adopt an eye-rest routine. It’s best to see an optometrist if this behavior becomes too frequent, however, as it may be a sign of an outdated prescription.

Keep an Eye on Your Eye Health

Why neglect the eyes, which are so crucial for our daily routine and quality of life?

Don’t forget the importance of protecting your vision not only indoors but outdoors too. To protect your eyes outdoors, click here to browse prescription sunglasses online.

Don’t wait to make an appointment if you suspect there’s a problem with your vision. A thorough eye examination can identify problems and diseases before your vision worsens. It’s essential to schedule regular appointments with your optometrist.

It may be time to update your prescription for glasses or contacts because your eyes are working harder than they need to. Even if your glasses appear to be working just fine, your prescription may expire and require an adjustment.

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