When glasses start to slip down your nose, pinching the bridge of your nose, or your hinges are loose, it is time to adjust your glasses. Adjusting the small components of prescription eyeglasses can be tricky and requires precision. But can you adjust your glasses at home safely?

It is better to go to an optician to have your glasses adjusted or fixed to not cause more damage to the lenses. Opticians can tighten screws or change the fit of the glasses with ease. If the need arises to adjust your glasses at home, here are some tips to ensure you are successful. 

Common Issues That Warrant Adjustment

• Loose hinges: The hinges that help your temple arms bend towards the lenses can become loose as you wear them each day. Using a small screwdriver to tighten the small screws will help them fit correctly on the sides of your head. Eyeglass repair kits often come with a screwdriver small enough to make these adjustments.
• Crooked frames: Putting glasses in your bag, in a pocket, or getting stepped on can cause the frames to bend. Use gentle force to bend the frame back to the straight position. You can also hold the frames by the bridge to make small adjustments. If you can not get your frames to sit evenly on your face on your own, contact your optician. 
• Slipping glasses: You will need to adjust the temple arms either outward or inward if your glasses are slipping. Ensure the arms are not too tight or loose on your head for optimal comfort. 
• Nose pad discomfort: Your nose pads help to keep your glasses straight on your face when looking down or moving your face. If the nose pads are irritating your skin or are too tight, they may need adjusting. Squeeze them together or push them apart to make room for your nose. There are also attachments or stick-on silicone pads that can make them more comfortable. 
• Misaligned lenses: If one lens is higher than the other hold the frame firmly and bend at the bridge to make the lenses align. Misaligned lenses can become a problem for your vision. If one eye is completely covered by the prescription lens and the other isn’t, your brain may have to work harder to compensate for the unclear vision. This can cause headaches and frustration.
• Frame warping: Older glasses can become distorted or warped over time. You can use a hairdryer on a low setting to heat your frames or arms to bend them back into place.
• Temple arm length: If one temple arm is longer than the other, bending them at the hinge can make them more even. Be sure to use light pressure so as to not break your glasses. 

Tools Needed To Adjust Your Glasses At Home

Some household items and tools can be used to adjust your glasses at home. When small problems occur, these tools are enough to get your glasses back in good condition. When larger problems occur, an optician should be the one to mend or adjust your eyeglasses. 

A microfiber cloth is a good item to have on hand when you wear glasses. This can be used to clean your lenses without scratching them and remove dirt or dust. You can also use this cloth to hold the glasses while you adjust your glasses at home so you avoid smudges on the lenses.

A small special screwdriver will also be needed to tighten the screws in your frames. Many small parts in your glasses can be hard to grasp without smaller tools. Pliers can also help you adjust hinges, nosepieces, and arms. Your fingers may be too big to work with these tiny pieces properly. 

Use Extreme Caution

If you are going to adjust your glasses at home, you need to be very careful to prevent further damage or breaking your glasses. If you have doubts about your ability to adjust any part of your eyeglasses, it would be better to consult a professional. Never adjust your glasses when you are in a rush and be sure to use extreme caution while adjusting. If your vision is poor, have a friend or family member with better vision help you adjust the small parts. 

Seek Professional Help When Necessary

Going to an eye care professional will prevent you from needing to adjust your glasses at home. They will have magnifiers that make adjusting the small parts much easier. Opticians will use professional tools to ensure glasses are repaired without additional damage. Wolcott Optical is an eye care professional that can help give you better-fitting glasses in no time. Whether you need completely new frames or just some new parts, our team can help you love your eyewear again.

Experiencing high-stress levels can cause physical problems in our bodies and mental health issues as well. Eye problems and diseases can develop if you put your body and eyes under too much stress. Working long hours, neglecting proper eye care, or looking at harmful lights can impact your vision for the rest of your life. Below are some common eye problems that can occur because of the intricate connection between high anxiety and our eye health.

Dry Eyes

For those who experience chronic stress, your body’s ability to maintain healthy tear film can be affected. Tears and moisture are crucial for your eyes to stay comfortable and allow you to see clearly. Stress disrupts the delicate balance your body has created which can lead to a gritty, burning, or irritated sensation. Prolonged distress can lead to inflammation, worsening the symptoms of dry eyes. Drink plenty of water, get plenty of sleep, or use eye drops when necessary to help improve dry eyes.

Migraines 

A major trigger for migraines is stress. Severe headaches can often involve eye pain and sensitivity to light. When you experience a migraine, it can be debilitating and affect your quality of life. Your eyes can be a contributing factor to headaches, especially when stress is involved. Eye irritation and stress can exacerbate to make headaches more frequent and intense. 

Glaucoma

A direct link between overwhelm and glaucoma has not been found, but stress can cause people to forget their medications, put in eye drops, or do basic tasks like drinking water. One study found that stress can limit our blood circulation which is a main cause for inflammation. Stress can also elevate intraocular pressure, which is a significant risk factor for glaucoma. While stress may not directly cause foggy vision, it can seem to contribute to it by lowering our body’s ability to fight off infection and inflammation. 

Visual Disturbances

Instances of tunnel vision, light sensitivity, and temporary vision loss have all been linked to extremely high levels of overwhelm or worry in the past. People often experience these symptoms when they have anxiety or panic attacks that are caused by stress. Not all of these vision disturbances are permanent, but if worry or panic is not controlled, it could have longer-lasting effects on your vision. 

Digital Eye Strain

As more people spend time around technology, the strain on our eyes increases. Blue light can cause damage to your eyes and looking at a bright screen in the dark can cause eye strain. Especially if you use a computer at work where you experience high stress, you could be at higher risk for eye strain or other vision problems. 

Eye fatigue can lead to headaches or blurred vision, which can make it hard to stay calm. Limiting your overall stress and knowing when it is time to take a break from the screen is crucial for your eye health. You may also benefit from blue light glasses or other prescription lenses to help reduce the effect a computer screen can have on your eyes. 

Ways To Limit Stress And Reduce The Likelihood Of Eye Problems

It is often easier said than done to limit stress in your life. Lowering your stress levels, getting treated for anxiety, or practicing meditation are all ways that you can improve symptoms leading to eye problems. 

Improve Your Sleep Habits

One way to keep up with your eye health is to get adequate sleep. When people are stressed, they often have a hard time going to sleep or staying asleep. Not only does this deprive your body of the rest it needs to heal, but many people use TV or scrolling on their phones to help them fall asleep. This can further strain your eyes and contribute to higher stress levels. Try to stop using devices an hour before bedtime to help your body relax and limit eye strain. 

Mindfulness And Meditation

Another way to help improve your mindset is to practice meditation. Meditation will not improve your eyes directly, but it can help refocus the mind and reduce anxiety. Muscle relaxation techniques, yoga, and mindfulness can all help reduce symptoms leading to eye problems. 

Seek Professional Help

If you are not able to reduce stress on your own or your eye problems persist, consider working with professionals. Opticians may be able to help prescribe eye drops or medications to reduce inflammation. Therapists or primary doctors can help with stress-reducing coping mechanisms or anxiety medication. No matter what solution you seek, getting help from others can drastically improve your overall health.

Those who wear glasses will understand the struggle of your lenses slipping down your nose or your face. If you want to prevent glasses from slipping, there are some actions you can take to keep them secure. Glasses need to remain firm on your face for you to see clearly. Helping to tighten your glasses or keep them secure will provide more benefits than you may realize. 

1- Choose The Right Frames

The fit of your frames is crucial to prevent glasses from slipping. You will want to have glasses that are snug, but not too tight. This will help them remain secure without causing pain or headaches. If you are using your glasses in physical activities, consider wraparound frames or sports frames to help your glasses stay in place. This extra grip will help you be able to see clearly even when your activity level increases. 

2- Anti-Slip Nose Pads

Pads that attach to your glasses and rest against your nose can help prevent glasses from slipping. Holding your frames in place when you bend over or look down is important if you want to be able to have proper vision. Anti-slip nose pads are made of silicone or rubber and help hold the glasses right on the bridge of your nose. The most common reason for slipping glasses is there is not enough friction between the glasses and your skin. Improve friction and using anti-slip add-ons will help keep your frames secure.

3- Eyeglass Retainers

Many people rely on eyeglass retainers for sunglasses and prescription glasses. These attachments can be interchangeable and removed when you feel they are not needed. These retainers are gently curved to provide comfortable wear of glasses and connection to the mastoid bone. 

Holding your glasses in place can also be a safety concern. If you wear safety glasses at work or your prescription glasses on the job, retainers can help keep them on your face and protect your eyes from damage. 

4- Keep Your Face Dry

This tip may seem like common sense, but this can be a common reason your glasses begin to slip. Water, makeup, and sweat can cause your glasses to slide down the bridge of your nose. Using a microfiber cloth to clean sweat and oil from your glasses will help them remain secure and prevent damage to the lenses. Staying hydrated and cleaning your glasses a few times a day can help you avoid this problem.

5- Tighten Any Loose Screws

Another way to prevent glasses from slipping is to tighten any screws or parts of your glasses. Maintaining the stability of the frame is another reason to tighten screws. If you are unsure how to properly tighten your glasses, visit your optician. They can help adjust your glasses to fit your unique face shape or suggest new frames. Your glasses will be wearable for much longer when you maintain all the components.

6- Use Other Non-Slip Products

Other non-slip gels or attachments exist to help create friction that will hold your glasses in place. Apply non-slip wax to the nose pads or ear hooks to help prevent glasses from slipping on your face. Silicone grips and temple tips are other additives that can help wearers of glasses have a more comfortable experience. 

7- Prevent Glasses From Slipping With A Professional Fitting

Working with an optician will help you find the best frames for your face shape and size. They will be able to help you find the materials and frames that are the most comfortable to wear. If your glasses are slipping or not fitting comfortably, contact your eye doctor or your local opticians. 

Wolcott Optical loves serving our local community and providing them with a better vision. Many of our family members and staff wear glasses as well, so we understand the frustrations and problems that can occur. If you want to prevent glasses from slipping or are struggling with glasses in other ways, come in and talk to our eye care professionals today. We would be happy to help!

Benefits Of Secure Glasses

Preventing glasses from slipping can have multiple benefits for the wearer. Not only will you be able to better wear your glasses, but it will help you see much clearer no matter the activity you are participating in. 

Below are some more benefits of securing your glasses:

• Enhanced comfort
• Longer wear time
• Improved vision
• Less likely to damage lenses
• Ability to participate in physical activities
• Higher confidence and self-esteem 
• Fewer fingerprints and smudges
• Reduced eye strain
• Less adjustment during work or other activities