Your glasses should feel comfortable, almost like they’re not even there. If they make the area behind your ears hurt, something isn’t right. Luckily, ear pain is a common issue among those who wear glasses and is usually easy to fix. 

If your glasses make your ears hurt, keep reading to learn possible causes of your discomfort, what to do about it, and when it’s a sign you need a new pair of glasses. 

What Causes Glasses to Hurt Behind the Ears?

First, let’s explore some possible reasons your glasses may be making your ears hurt:

• Ill-fitting frames: When the frames are too tight around the temples or don’t align with the natural curve of your head, they can create a pinching pressure on the area behind the ears. 
• Incorrect temple length: When the arms of the glasses are too short, they can pull ward and dig into the ears. If they’re too long, they can slide around, causing friction and irritation.
• Weight of the frames: Heavier frames, like those made from metal or acetate, can create downward pressure on the ears. 
• Uneven or warped frames: Frames can become bent or warped due to daily wear, improper storage, or being accidentally dropped. This can cause one ear to carry more weight than the other, creating discomfort. 
• Poor nose pad fit: If the nose pads don’t fit quite right, the weight of the glasses shifts backward to the ears. 
• Skin sensitivity or allergies: Some people are allergic to certain metals used in glasses frames, such as nickel. Additionally, a build-up of dirt, sweat, or hair products on the frames can cause skin irritation around the ear. 

How to Fix Glasses That Make Your Ears Hurt

Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to fix your glasses so they don’t make your ears hurt anymore, from getting them professionally adjusted to preventing slippage to cleaning them regularly. 

Ensure the Right Fit

Professional opticians can heat and reshape the frames, adjust the curves, increase the nose pad height, and make sure they’re balanced. Avoid DIY adjustments, as they can cause damage and make your ears hurt worse if done incorrectly. 

Reduce Slipping

Consider adding temple sleeves or anti-slip grips to your glasses. These accessories are a simple, inexpensive way to make your glasses sit more comfortably behind your ears. You can also seek professional adjustments to ensure the frame sits correctly on the bridge of your nose to reduce slipping. 

Clean and Maintain Your Glasses

A build-up of oils, sweat, and hair products can cause irritation, especially for those who have sensitive skin. Regularly clean the entirety of your glasses — not just the lenses — to help reduce discomfort. 

When Ear Pain from Glasses Is a Sign You Need a New Pair

Sometimes, when your glasses make your ears hurt, it’s a good indication that you need a new pair. Wear and tear can cause the frames to warp over time, affecting how they sit on your face. Here are some ways to prevent ear pain with your new glasses:

Get a Professional Fitting Before You Buy

When purchasing a new pair of glasses, make sure the temple length, bridge and frame width, and nose pad position are right for your face. Try on lots of different frame styles until you find one that’s comfortable. 

Optical professionals can give you personalized frame recommendations based on your head shape, ear placement, skin sensitivities, and personal preferences, so don’t hesitate to ask for advice. 

Opt for Lightweight, Hypoallergenic Materials

If you have sensitive ears, stick with lightweight materials like titanium, TR-90, or flexible plastic like acetate. If you know you’re allergic to nickel, avoid frames that contain it and consider opting for something like stainless steel instead. 

Consider Your Daily Activities

Make sure the glasses you choose fit your lifestyle. For example, different frames may be more suitable for participating in sports than for wearing all day in the office. If your day-to-day life is more active, prioritize anti-slip features for increased comfort. 

How Wolcott Optical Can Help

If your glasses make your ears hurt, you don’t have to just put up with it. At Wolcott Optical, we’re committed to helping our customers find glasses that not only look great, but fit comfortably and enhance their lives. With a large selection of frames, we’re sure to have plenty of options that won’t make your ears hurt or cause any other discomfort, and our expert staff is trained to help you solve fit issues. Stop by our shop in Salt Lake City today for personalized assistance!

Many people struggle to see clearly at nighttime, whether they’re driving, going for a walk, or reading. Low light, glare, and contrast sensitivity all play a big role in your ability to see after sundown. Luckily, certain types of glasses can help you see better at night. 

If you’re looking for ways to improve your night vision, keep reading to learn why it’s harder to see in low light and how the right pair of glasses can make a big difference. 

Understanding Night Vision

First, let’s explore the mechanics of night vision. In low light, your pupils dilate to let in more light. However, this dilation reduces the depth of field and sharpness, making it hard to distinguish how far away objects are. 

Furthermore, when it’s dark, the rods in your eyes take over from the cones. While rods are more light-sensitive, they lower your ability to perceive color and detail. 

If you have poor night vision, it may be due to nearsightedness or other refractive errors, dry eyes, or aging lenses in the eyes. While driving, you may experience glare from oncoming headlights, especially if you have astigmatism, which can cause starbursts or a halo effect around lights. 

While these issues are relatively common, corrective lenses and specialty coatings can help reduce their impact and help you see better at night. 

How Glasses Can Help You See Better at Night

Let’s take a closer look at how glasses can help you see better at night. 

• Updated prescription lenses: Even a slightly outdated prescription can make a big difference in night vision. That’s why it’s so important to keep up with eye exams as your vision changes over time. 
• Anti-reflective coatings: If you want to reduce glare and halos from lights at night, try glasses with an anti-reflective coating, which can improve contrast and clarity. 
• Lenses designed for driving at night: Some lenses are optimized for low light conditions, reducing reflections and increasing contrast. 
• Blue light filtering: While blue light glasses aren’t made specifically to improve night vision, they can help you avoid eye strain in the evening hours, especially if you spend a lot of time looking at screens. 

What Glasses Can’t Do for Night Vision

Unfortunately, glasses don’t amplify light like night-vision goggles. They can’t correct issues like cataracts or retinal problems, either; these conditions require medical care.

If you still struggle with night vision even with the right glasses, it’s important to get a comprehensive eye exam to rule out underlying eye conditions. This is especially true if driving at night feels unsafe or difficult, you notice worsening glare or halos, or you experience sudden vision changes, pain, or cloudiness. 

Additional Tips for Seeing Better at Night

Whether you wear glasses or not, there are things you can do to see better at night, including:

• If you wear glasses, keep your lenses clean and smudge-free to avoid glare at night. 
• Make sure your windshield is clean, as well. 
• In general, avoid tinted lenses when driving at night, as they reduce visibility. However, yellow-tinted lenses may help reduce glare from bright headlights. 
• While indoors, use proper lighting to avoid eye strain, especially while reading, crafting, or doing anything that requires small details. 
• Visit your optometrist regularly to ensure your prescription is up to date.

Find the Perfect Glasses for Your Needs at Wolcott Optical

Glasses can absolutely help you see better at night, especially when you have the right prescription and anti-reflective lens coatings. For best results, it’s essential to seek professional guidance from the experts. 

At Wolcott Optical, we offer an endless range of vision solutions. Whether you want to be able to see better at night, shield your eyes from the sun during the day, or make it easier to read small print, we’re here to help. From prescription glasses and contact lenses to blue light-blocking glasses and safety glasses, we have the tools you need to see the world more clearly. 

If you want to see better at night, visit Wolcott Optical in Salt Lake City, Utah, today to explore your options, consult with our experienced team, and learn more about how the right pair of glasses can improve your night vision. 

Let’s face it: Eyeglasses can be expensive. While the benefits of clear vision are definitely worth the price, many people wonder if prescription sunglasses are a worthwhile investment. Some turn to common alternatives like clip-ons, transition lenses, combining contacts with regular sunglasses, or simply wearing their sunglasses over their prescription eyeglasses. 

If you’re wondering whether prescription sunglasses are worth the cost, keep reading to learn more about their benefits, alternatives to consider, and how to choose the right solution for your needs. 

What Are Prescription Sunglasses?

Prescription sunglasses are just like regular eyeglasses, but with tinted lenses to protect your eyes from harsh sunlight. Like eyeglasses, they’re available with single vision, bifocal, and progressive lenses — plus, they can be polarized or mirrored. Most regular frames can be ordered as sunglasses, giving you a wide range of styles and colors to choose from. 

Benefits of Prescription Sunglasses

The benefits of prescription sunglasses include:

• Clear vision outdoors: They combine corrective lenses with sun protection, eliminating the need to switch between glasses and sunglasses. 
• UV protection: By blocking UV rays, they can reduce your risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and other eye problems. 
• Reduced glare: Polarized lenses reduce glare while driving, spending time at the beach, lounging around the pool, or exploring the snow-covered hills. 
• Comfort and eye health: Reducing eye strain and squinting can help prevent headaches and discomfort caused by exposure to bright sunlight. 
• Convenience: They eliminate the hassle of layering two pairs of glasses or constantly switching between them.

Common Alternatives to Prescription Sunglasses

Prescription sunglasses aren’t the only option for sun-friendly vision correction. Some people opt for alternatives like:

• Transition/photochromic lenses: These lenses darken when exposed to sunlight and turn transparent again while indoors. However, they don’t always work well while driving, and some brands take longer to adjust than others, especially in cold weather. 
• Clip-on sunglasses: Clip-on sunglasses can be attached to your eyeglasses when you need them and taken off when you don’t. They’re affordable, but often less stylish and low-quality. 
• Contacts and sunglasses: Those who wear contacts can wear regular sunglasses at the same time. While this works great for some, not everyone likes or can wear contacts.
• Over-the-glasses sunglasses: While functional, these sunglasses are typically bulky and less fashionable.

Cost Considerations

While budget options are available, quality prescription sunglasses are an investment. Depending on the frames, lenses, and coatings you choose, they can be just as — if not more — expensive than prescription eyeglasses, especially if you opt for designer frames. However, their long-term benefits — including longevity, durability, enhanced protection, and eye health advantages — often outweigh the initial cost. Plus, insurance coverage or package deals may reduce the price, making them more affordable. 

Who Should Consider Prescription Sunglasses?

So, who should consider prescription sunglasses? People who spend significant time outdoors or in the car — commuters, athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, drivers, or travelers — can definitely benefit from them, especially if they struggle with light sensitivity or other eye problems. 

They’re also great for style-conscious individuals who want a balance between vision correction and fashion, along with anyone who’s frustrated with alternatives like clip-ons or transition lenses.

If you typically wear contacts, you can get by most of the time with regular sunglasses, since you don’t need the corrective benefits of prescription lenses, on top of your contacts. However, prescription sunglasses are nice to have around for the times when you can’t wear contacts, such as when you’re splashing around at the pool or are battling eye irritation.

Choosing the Right Prescription Sunglasses

If you’ve decided to invest in prescription sunglasses, it’s important to get the right pair for your needs, which is why it’s a good idea to get a professional fitting at an eyeglass store. Optical professionals can help you choose the right lens options, whether it’s tinted, polarized, gradient, mirrored, or anti-reflective coatings. They’ll recommend durable, comfortable frames that fit your lifestyle and express your personality. 

Prescription Sunglasses at Wolcott Optical

If you’re looking for prescription sunglasses in Salt Lake City, Utah, trust the professionals at Wolcott Optical. Our team members would love to help you choose sunglasses that combine clear vision, UV protection, convenience, and style, whether you need corrective lenses or not. Come visit us to try on different frames, explore your options, and consult with experts about whether prescription sunglasses are right for you. And if you have any questions about what eyewear we offer, feel free to contact us.