Headaches, Blurry Vision and Eye Strain: Could Your Glasses Be the Problem?

A headache does not automatically mean that you need new glasses. Headaches can have many causes, and persistent or severe symptoms should be discussed with an appropriate health-care professional.

However, vision problems and improperly fitted eyewear can sometimes contribute to headaches, blurry vision and eye strain.

Here are a few possibilities worth investigating.

Your Prescription May Have Changed

Vision can change gradually. Because the brain is very good at adapting, you may not immediately notice that your glasses are no longer giving you the clearest or most comfortable vision.

You may start squinting, leaning toward the computer or holding reading material at a different distance. By the end of the day, that extra effort may leave your eyes feeling tired.

Possible signs of a prescription change include:

• Blurry distance or near vision

• Headaches after reading or screen use

• Difficulty driving at night

• Increased glare

• Frequently rubbing your eyes

• Closing one eye to focus

• Taking longer to change focus between near and far objects

An eye exam is the proper way to determine whether your prescription has changed.

Your Glasses May Not Be Sitting Correctly

Even a perfectly manufactured pair of lenses may not perform as intended when the frame is badly out of adjustment.

Frames can loosen and shift through normal wear. They may become crooked after being dropped, sat on or “borrowed” by a child who absolutely denies touching them.

When glasses sit too high, too low, too far from the eyes or at an uneven angle, you may no longer be looking through the intended areas of the lenses.

This can be especially noticeable with stronger prescriptions, bifocals and progressive lenses.

Lens Measurements Matter

Prescription lenses must be positioned according to measurements such as the distance between the pupils. Multifocal lenses also require accurate fitting heights.

When the optical centres of the lenses are not properly aligned with the eyes, some wearers may experience:

• Headaches

• Eye strain

• Blurry or distorted vision

• Double vision

• Dizziness

• Difficulty adapting to the glasses

The frame choice also affects these measurements. That is why professional fitting involves more than simply copying the numbers from a prescription.

Your Work Distance May Have Changed

Your glasses may be suitable for one activity but less comfortable for another.

For example, reading material is generally held closer than a desktop monitor. A laptop, multiple-monitor workstation or large television may each sit at a different distance.

Some people benefit from lenses designed for computer or office use. These are intended to provide a comfortable viewing range for specific tasks, rather than acting as a replacement for every pair of glasses.

Scratches and Damaged Coatings Can Affect Clarity

Small scratches may seem harmless, but widespread scratching, crazed coatings or damaged lenses can scatter light and reduce clarity.

This may become especially noticeable:

• While driving at night

• In bright sunlight

• Under overhead lighting

• When looking at illuminated signs

• During prolonged screen use

Cleaning glasses with clothing, paper towel or household cleaners can damage certain lens coatings. Use an appropriate lens cleaner and a clean microfibre cloth instead.

New Glasses Sometimes Require Adaptation

Some prescriptions and lens designs require a brief adjustment period. Progressive lenses, in particular, require the wearer to learn which area of the lens to use for different distances.

However, severe headaches, nausea, significant distortion or an inability to function normally should not simply be ignored. Return to the optical store so the fit, measurements and manufacturing can be checked.

When Symptoms Need Urgent Attention

Sudden blurry vision, sudden double vision, severe eye pain, new flashes or floaters, a dark curtain or shadow in your vision, or symptoms following an injury require prompt professional assessment.

Do not assume a sudden change is only a glasses problem.

Let Us Check the Fit

At 3 for 1 Glasses, we can inspect the condition and fit of your eyewear, discuss lens options and help determine whether an eye exam should be your next step.

Visit us at 1550 Upper James Street in Hamilton. Sometimes the solution is a new prescription. Sometimes your glasses just need a proper adjustment instead of another heroic attempt to bend them at home.