Glasses are an easy, cost-effective way to correct your vision. Whether you’re squeamish about contacts, you like to alternate between contacts and glasses, or you simply prefer glasses, one thing many glasses wearers have in common is the annoying red marks they can leave on your nose. Said red marks can take makeup and skincare off and can even be downright painful, depending on the cause.

Fortunately, you don’t have to grin and bear it. Depending on the cause, you may be able to prevent your glasses from leaving red marks on your nose.

Should Glasses Leave Red Marks On Your Nose?

In many cases, if your glasses are leaving red marks on your nose, this means that they don’t first properly and need to be adjusted. If your red marks are accompanied by pain or discomfort, definitely have them adjusted, as glasses should not be painful to wear.

However, this is not always the case. If you are someone who wears makeup, you may notice red marks on your nose even if your glasses fit correctly. If you have any concerns about the red marks your glasses are leaving on your nose, it’s best to talk to your optician. 

Common Reasons Why Your Glasses Leave Red Marks On Your Nose

#1. They Do Not Sit Properly

If you have nose bridge pain from your glasses, this can be because they are not sitting properly. You will want to have them adjusted so that they fit correctly. If you have pain behind your ears in addition to red marks on your nose, this is likely because your glasses are too small for your face.

#2. They Are Heavy

If you have red marks on your nose that disappear overnight, they are likely light pressure marks. This can mean that your glasses are just heavy. Picking a lighter frame can resolve the problem. Heavy frames can also leave indents on your nose.

#3. They Are Not Made Properly

If your glasses are giving you headaches from eye strain in addition to red marks, this means that either you need to adjust to them, as can happen when people first start wearing glasses. It can also mean that your glasses are not made properly to the prescription. 

#4. You Are Having An Allergic Reaction

Another reason why your glasses can leave red marks on your nose is if you are allergic to the material the nose pads are made of. Nose pads are typically made of plastic or silicone. If you have an allergic reaction, your optician will work with you to find a solution that works for you.

This could also happen if you don’t clean your glasses’ nose pads on a regular basis. Oil, dirt, and bacteria can build up on them, leading to adverse reactions. 

#5. They Do Not Fit Correctly

If your red marks are indents, this likely means that your glasses don’t fit correctly and need to be adjusted. The bridge width could be too narrow or the frame could not be correct for you. The weight may not be evenly distributed. The nose pads may sit too high or too low on your nose bridge.

Adjusting your glasses is something that needs to be done by a professional, as trying to adjust them yourself can cause damage to the frame. They can adjust the pads to either a different type or to distribute the weight more evenly. They can also adjust the frame or recommend a new frame. 

#6. It’s The Nose Pad Material

Harder plastic materials are more likely to leave marks than silicone. If the material of your nose pads is causing the red marks, you can talk about this with your optician.

How To Prevent Red Marks On Your Nose With Makeup

Even if your glasses are a perfect fit, they can still leave red marks on your nose from taking your makeup off. There are a few things that you can try in order to prevent this. 

• Apply eyeshadow primer to your nose, let it dry, then powder it.
• Soak your beauty sponge in long-lasting setting spray, pack setting powder over concealer/foundation, then brush off once set – aka, bake your nose.
• Put a mattifying primer around the sides of your nose and powder your foundation, as creating more dryness prevents slippage.
• Use blotting sheets to help with oil, then powder.
• Wipe down the nose pads of your glasses, then lightly dust with setting powder.
• Use less makeup in that area. Apply from the outside of the face in.

Are You Struggling With Your Glasses?

Wolcott Optical is here to help! We can ensure that your glasses fit correctly and that the frame is right for you. Contact us today with any questions you may have about the fit of your glasses or any problems you’re experiencing.

Progressive lenses are an alternative to bifocals that many people prefer, since the seamless progression of one prescription to another makes them feel younger than having a line through the lens. However, if you hate your progressive lenses, you’re not alone. Many people get them thinking that they will like them more than bifocals, and hate them so much they go to return them.

If you hate your progressive lenses, this doesn’t automatically mean that there is something wrong with them or you. There’s a learning curve with progressives and it is an art in order to ensure that they fit correctly. Many people come to love their progressive lenses while others cannot tolerate them. If you have any concerns about your progressive lenses, it’s best to talk to your eye doctor, as they will be able to provide you with personalized advice.

Here are some common questions about progressive lenses answered, as well as some information to know if you currently hate your progressive lenses. 

Are Progressive Lenses Supposed To Be Blurry On The Sides?

With glasses in general, people adjust to being able to see clearly in front of them through the lens while having the blurriness of their real vision along the sides. However, with progressives, people find that the sides of the lenses themselves can be blurry. They struggle to find focal points and get frustrated, because your lenses are supposed to bring the world into focus, not blur it. 

Initially, you may notice blurriness on the sides of your progressive lenses. This is because of the change in lens strength across the lens. It takes time to adjust to this, but in time, you won’t notice it. It’s similar to how when your prescription changes, the tops of the walls might appear to be curving in for the first few days, and then you don’t notice it anymore. 

If your progressive lenses are blurry on the sides, give yourself a week or two for your brain to adjust to them. If they’re still blurry after a couple of weeks, you can go to your eye doctor and have them looked at. 

Adjusting To Progressive Lenses

In the adjustment period, you may find that you hate your progressive lenses a great deal. You may feel like your vision is blurry or fuzzy. You may get headaches or feel dizzy. Initially, this may seem like there’s something wrong with the lenses. However, most people adjust to their progressive lenses within a couple of weeks. Your eye doctor should have warned you about this and advised you on what you can do to make the adjustment period easier.

Some of the things that you can do to help yourself adjust to progressive lenses include:

• Wearing them as often as possible.
• Pointing your nose in the direction you’re looking.
• Making an effort to look through the correct section of the lens.

What Is The Usual Adjustment Period For Progressive Lenses?

Typically, it only takes one or two weeks for people to adjust to their progressive lenses. It can take up to a month in some cases. However, if you have not adjusted to your progressives after two weeks of consistent wear, then you should contact your eye doctor or the provider of your glasses. You may also need to switch to a different lens design. 

In some cases, progressives simply may not be a good fit for you. If you’ve given them your all, done everything you were supposed to, and they were fitted correctly, you may be better off with bifocals or other types of glasses. 

How To Tell If Your Progressive Lenses Fit Correctly

If you hate your progressive lenses, it could very well have nothing to do with you and adjusting and everything to do with how they were fitted. It’s an art to ensure that progressives fit correctly, as your pupillary distance, the correct height, the frame, the design, and the corridor length are all needed to ensure they work well.

If your eyewear provider skipped a step or did not fit them correctly, this could be why you hate your progressive lenses. If you go back and the eyewear provider tells you there is nothing wrong with the fit, it could be worth getting a second opinion in order to determine whether or not they are fitted properly. 

If your progressive lenses fit correctly, you should be able to adjust to them and they should be comfortable to wear. 

What If You Still Hate Your Progressive Lenses?

Have you done everything your eye doctor told you to, waited the two weeks, and still hate your progressive lenses? Come to Wolcott Optical. We will ensure that your lenses fit correctly. If you decide that progressives aren’t for you, we can provide you with other options. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

You know when you look up at the sky or at a blank Word document on your computer screen and you have little squigglies in your vision? These are called eye floaters. If you have them, you may wonder whether or not they’re something to be concerned about. In truth: it depends. In most cases, you don’t need to worry about floaties in your vision. However, there are some cases where you will need to contact an eye specialist about them.

Here is what you need to know about eye floaters, what causes them, and when they are and are not cause for concern. Let’s get into it!

What Are Eye Floaters?

These are spots in your vision. They can look a few different ways. You may see them as squigglies, black or gray specks, or threads. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. 

You usually notice them when you look at something light-colored, like a blank document, a light wall, the sky, or something else like that. They move with your eye, but there’s usually a lag before the floaters go in the direction your eyes went.

However, if you try to look at a floater, you’ll find that it moves out of your line of vision. Floaters will typically settle down and drift out of your line of vision, causing you to notice them less. 

What Causes Floaters?

Floaters can be caused by a variety of different factors. If you notice a sudden increase in the amount of floaters you have and they start to impact your vision, you should contact an eye doctor right away, as this could be a sign of a serious eye issue. 

Floaters are most commonly caused by vitreous changes. Your vitreous humor is the jelly-like substance within your eye that fills the space between the retina and the lens. It helps to maintain the shape of your eyeball and acts as a shock absorber. Contrary to what you may think, eye floaters aren’t actually on the outside of your eye, but within your vitreous humor.

This is because floaters are created when little clumps form in the vitreous. This can happen simply as a result of aging, due to how your vitreous slowly pulls away from the interior surface of your eyeball. The collagen fibers in the vitreous then form strings and clumps which cast shadows on your retina – aka, floaters.

These are typically quite harmless. However, there are some serious conditions that can cause floaters. These are:

• Inflammation. Uveitis is a type of inflammation at the back of your eye and can result from autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases, and infection.
• Bleeding inside the eye. This can happen due to injury, retinal tears, retinal detachment, high blood pressure, diabetes, and blocked blood vessels. What looks like floaters are actually blood cells.
• Retinal tears. Your vitreous naturally contracts now and then. If it contracts too hard, it can tear your retina. If left untreated, this can lead to retinal detachment. 
• Eye medications or surgeries. These can cause bubbles in your vitreous, which look like floaters.

Contrary to what some may believe, contact lenses do not cause floaters. However, since they improve your vision, they can improve your awareness of eye floaters.

Should You Be Concerned About Eye Floaters?

In the majority of cases? No. While floaters may be mildly annoying, they’re not typically something that you need to worry about. If you have concerns, you should bring them up to your eye doctor. 

However, there are cases, as mentioned above, where floaters can indicate more serious issues. You should contact your eye doctor right away if:

• You suddenly have more floaters
• There are a lot more floaters than usual
• There are blurry or grey areas blocking parts of your vision
• You see flashes of light with the floaters
• You have darkness at the side of your vision

While typically painless, these can threaten your vision and need to be treated as soon as possible. 

Some people also experience floaters and flashes during migraines or from standing up too quickly. Treating the cause treats the floaters.

How Do You Treat Eye Floaters?

As mentioned before, you usually don’t need to treat eye floaters. Your eye doctor will tell you whether you do or not.

However, if they are blocking your vision, you can undergo a surgery called a vitrectomy, where your vitreous is replaced with a salt solution. If you have some of the other issues that can cause floaters, or what look like floaters, treating the issue should treat the floaters.

If you are concerned about eye floaters, consult with your eye doctor.

If you want to improve your vision, Wolcott Optical can provide you with both glasses and contact lenses. Contact us today to learn more.