Getting new glasses or prescription lenses for the first time can be a mix of emotions. Some patients may feel excitement about something new and improving their vision, while others will experience nervousness about the unknown. Wearing glasses is common for lots of children and adults to help correct eye damage or genetic eye conditions. The timeline it takes to adjust to glasses can vary from person to person. Some will take longer to get over disorientation than others. Especially when it comes to the feeling on your face, how they make your eyes feel, and how you do your makeup around them. 

It is typical for eyes to take around 1-2 weeks to adjust to glasses or contacts. If you are experiencing some discomfort like nausea or tired eyes, this is completely normal. If these symptoms persist for multiple weeks, make sure to talk to your eye doctor about a solution. As your brain adjusts to glasses with a new way of seeing, any symptoms or pain should slowly dissipate. 

Adapting To Wearing Glasses

No matter the age, gender, or lifestyle of a patient there will be an adjustment period to wearing lenses. No matter if you are wearing glasses or contacts, your brain will need time to learn how to see with the lenses and adjust to wearing frames. 

The best way to adjust to glasses is to wear them consistently. Wearing your glasses while attending school, working at the computer, or driving will help your eyes adjust much quicker. If you put off wearing your glasses on a daily basis, it will make it harder for your body to adjust. 

Occasionally after getting new glasses, you may find that the prescription is slightly off. This can make it hard for your eyes to focus and cause disorientation. Your eyes will have to work harder to see and you could experience a headache and eye soreness. 

Can I Drive After Getting Glasses Or Contacts?

On the day of your eye appointment, the doctor may dilate your eyes. It is not safe to drive while your eyes are dilated or when you have new glasses. You should give your eyes a little time to adjust to glasses before driving heavy machinery. Typically the next day, your eyes are adjusted enough to drive, but if your vision is still blurry, avoid driving if possible. 

Typical Discomfort You Can Experience When Wearing Glasses

Every patient is different, but there are common symptoms and pains that can come when your eyes adjust to glasses. These include:

• Headaches
• Tired Eyes
• Sore Eyes or Nose
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Visual changes
• Sensitivity to Light
• Changes in Depth Perception

If you are experiencing extreme pain or discomfort when closing or opening your eyes, call your doctor immediately. When you adjust to glasses, this could cause you to feel disoriented, but extreme pain can be a major cause for concern. Working with your optometrist to find the right prescription and avoid eye irritation will help correct your vision while avoiding eye diseases. 

Adjusting Your Vision To Specialized Lenses

Progressive or specialized lenses like bifocals, can take slightly longer to get used to. Because different parts of the lenses have different focal points, your eyes need to switch between lenses for different tasks. Your eyes may actually feel some relief from specialized lenses because the vision is being corrected. Straining your eyes to cook or read without glasses can cause more pain than wearing the glasses will. 

Talk To Your Eye Doctor If Problems Persist

If any of the symptoms you are experiencing are extremely painful or persist for longer than a couple of weeks, you should plan to talk to your optometrist. Most discomfort you experience while you adjust to glasses is not a sign of any serious issues, but addressing anything sooner rather than later can help limit damage to the eyes. 
Wolcott Optical offers glasses, safety glasses, contacts, and sunglasses for patients. We have been in the optometry business for over 75 years, so we know how to provide quality eye care to those in Salt Lake City. We guarantee that you will be satisfied with our customer service and receive better eyesight after working with our family-owned company.

Choosing between contacts or glasses is usually up to personal preference, but if you have specific eye conditions like dry eyes, one option may be better than another. Wearing prescription glasses or contact lenses can help you see more clearly, but can they also help improve your dry eyes? Our optometrists at Wolcott Optical want all patients to feel comfortable in their eyewear, so choosing comfortable options for dry eyes will help improve your daily activities. 

What Causes Dry Eyes?

Different situations can cause your eyes to be dry and it can change from hour to hour. Using your eyes for multiple hours a day will require more moisture to be produced by blinking. If you have poor blinking habits while reading or using screens this can be a main cause of dry eyes later. 

Other factors or changes in your routine can lead to dry eyes. Taking certain medications like heart medications, birth control pills, or morphine. If you have started having symptoms of dry eyes because of medications, talk to your doctors about other options or if these symptoms are normal. 

Pregnancy and hormone changes in women can also be a cause of dry eyes. These changes are temporary and sometimes eye drops can help limit irritation. Other causes of dry eyes can include:

• Dry indoor environment
• High winds or dusty conditions
• Illnesses like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes
• Wearing your contact lenses for too long

Pros And Cons Of Glasses

There are pros and cons of different types of optical care. Glasses may be a better option for many people who don’t want to worry about touching their eyes or not losing their contacts. Specific glasses also have built-in UV protection that will protect your eyes from sun damage and adjust automatically when you walk out into the sunlight.

Glasses don’t require you to follow specific instructions for wear. Contacts need to be stored in solution, only worn for specific hours of the day, etc. Glasses are ready to go when you need them and don’t really require any eye prep before wear. 

Since you aren’t wearing the glasses directly on your eye, the risk of dry eyes is lessened. Improve your blinking patterns and avoid eye strain while wearing glasses. 

Glasses also have their cons and problems too. The frames and lenses are prone to breaking which means that you will need to replace them as soon as possible if you want to be able to see clearly. 

All lenses will need to be cleaned and smudges are common. Cleaning your lenses will help prevent eye strain or distractions during your day. 

Pros And Cons Of Contacts

Wearing contacts is more natural for some patients and it causes less eye strain than glasses. They definitely don’t require bulky frames or change your appearance. Contact wearers also comment on how wearing contact lenses improves their peripheral vision.

Another unique benefit of contacts is the ability to change your eye color. Colored contacts can help you see clearly while altering your iris color easily. Glasses don’t have this creative benefit for those who want to have a little fun with their eyewear. 

Glasses wearers will attest to the annoying fogging that happens during the rain or when cooking with steam. Contacts will help you avoid this problem. 

The biggest con of contacts is that they can cause dry eyes for many patients. If you wear them too long, don’t blink enough, or are prone to dry eyes already, they can really irritate your eyes. 

If touching your eyes is a deal breaker for you, wearing contacts is not the best option. You will need to touch your eye to put in the contact lens, take it out at night, and if any adjustments need to be made. Those who are grossed out by touching their eyes will want to stay away from contact lenses. Touching your eyes too much can also lead to dry and irritated eyes. 

Treatments For Dry Eyes

Oftentimes, your contacts aren’t the reason you are experiencing dry eyes. In fact, as mentioned previously, lots of different environmental factors can play a role. Common treatments such as eye drops or anti-inflammatory medication can be prescribed to those with mild symptoms. 

For those with more severe symptoms or chronic dry eye, surgeries or stronger medications may be necessary. Artificial tears are similar to eye drops and can help eliminate irritation. These will not treat the underlying cause of dry eyes though. 

Other treatments include:

• Punctal plugs
• Special contact lenses
• Closing tear ducts
• Light therapy
• Eyelid massage