How Long Does It Take for Eyes to Adjust to New Prescription

It can be disappointing spending all that time finding the perfect frame and when the moment comes to finally try them on for the first time and things just don't look right. It seems your new lenses just don't quite work as well as your old pair. This is totally normal and something that most glasses-wearers will experience.

The problems with getting used to new glasses-

Any visual issues that you may experience will usually pass within a day or two. However, it is important to be aware of what these issues could be.

• Eye Strain – Your eyes may become tired and sore which could lead to watery or dry eyes as well as headaches. It can be annoying but usually isn't serious. This will usually pass after a few days.
• Distortion – Some people may experience distortion, especially in their peripheral vision after getting a new prescription. This is more common in higher prescriptions or with larger lenses than you're used to. This could be fixed with a quick change to the fit of your glasses.
• Fishbowl – This is the term given to vision that appears to be "bent" around the edges whilst maintaining clear vision in the centre, giving it a "fishbowl" effect. Much like peripheral distortion, this is more common when changing to higher prescriptions or larger lenses.
• Headaches / Migraines – Headaches aren't an uncommon symptom of changing to a new prescription. It is best to persevere as the problem will usually go away within a week, if not, consult your optician.
• Depth Perception – When first adjusting to your new lenses, you may find it more difficult to discern how far or how close an object is. Those who are nearsighted with a more powerful prescription will experience objects looking smaller than they used to, tricking your brain into thinking they're further away than they actually are.

What could be potentially wrong with your prescription-

It is important to remember that most people will experience at least one of these symptoms when adjusting to new lenses and glasses so they're not unusual. These issues will persist until you adjust to your new lenses which usually takes a few days but could be up to a week or two. Your brain needs time to adapt to the change. It may need a day or two to determine that the new clearer image that its receiving is correct. This is especially the case with people using glasses for the first time.

Some issues such as distorted vision or worsened depth perception are definitely a nuisance but won't cause any major damage and usually disappear after a few days. Other symptoms, such as headaches can be more a more serious issue if not properly monitored. As well as being a symptom of the adjustment time, headaches can be a telltale sign of a more serious issue. Headaches are often a sign of a faulty prescription. This is not something that can be fixed with time. Your eyes will not adapt to a faulty prescription. The only fix is visiting your optician to get the prescription checked and changed if necessary.

As previously mentioned, most of these issues are expected and will go away after a little time and patience. However, if you are experiencing more serious issues, or these symptoms haven't gone away after a week or two, speak to your optician. They will be able to check your prescription and determine if any mistakes have been made or if you just need more time to adjust.

Consider your safety-

Adjusting to your new glasses will usually pass without any real consequences. However, it is best to take care whilst your eyes and brain adapt to the change. Take care when walking on stairs or uneven ground. Special care should be taken when driving or operating heavy machinery. If you're having issues with your vision, it is best to play it safe and avoid these tasks until after the adjustment period. This is especially true when dealing with new bifocals or varifocals or if your prescription has changed dramatically.

How long does it take for my eyes to adjust-

The general consensus is that most people will take around two-three days to adjust to their new glasses. This is for those dealing with a 'normal' change in prescription. The adjustment period could last up to two weeks in rare cases. We recommend checking in with your optician after 2-3 days.

Things you can do to help your eyes adjust-

There are no special tricks or secrets to helping you adjust to your new glasses. However, there a couple of things that can make the process easier.

• Wear them. Wear them as soon as you get up when your eyes are fresh. Try to wear them as much as possible throughout the day, as consistently as you can.
• Avoid constantly putting on and taking off your glasses or swapping them with an old, "more comfortable" pair. These things will only prolong the adjustment period and make it harder for you to adapt to your new glasses.
• Persevere. Getting new glasses can be exciting but it is important to stay patient and give your new frames some time.

It is important to remember to give yourself and your eyes some time to adjust to a new prescription. Most symptoms will pass within a few days but if they don't, be sure to visit your optician for a check-up.

Looking to pick up your own pair of new glasses or sunglasses? At Spex4less we're sure to have the perfect frames and lenses for you.

How Long Does It Take for Eyes to Adjust to New Prescription

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