Can wearing glasses make my eyes seem worse?

Answers by Mitchell Gossman, MD, an ophthalmologist at Eye Associates of Central Minnesota, located in St. Cloud

Can wearing glasses make my eyes seem worse?

Usually not, in the sense  that the health of the eyes cannot be harmed by wearing glasses. You could wear aunt’s thick prescription and it wouldn’t damage your eyes. However…

For adults, your vision can not get worse because of the glasses you wear.  But if you don’t get used to a new prescription within a couple of weeks, best to get things checked out. Stock photo

There are many situations where may seem worse than before after wearing glasses, and one situation where glasses can actually be harmful.

First, for children under age 10 it is possible for vision to be permanently damaged by wearing an incorrect glasses prescription. Just changing the sign (plus or minus) or a mistake in a single digit can cause harm.

Otherwise, for 11 years and up you can’t damage your eyes by wearing glasses. There are some situations, though, where it might seem that way.

1. If you were having some blurry vision, and you were prescribed glasses, you are likely now enjoying the better vision, but it might seem like your vision is worse without glasses than it seemed before. That is psychology, not a medical condition – it’s because you now have something to compare.

2. If you are prescribed reading glasses or bifocals to help you read, in the months and years to come it may seem like your near vision is worse without glasses than before, but it’s really because, again, you’re comparing vision with and without glasses. Also, as you get older, stronger reading glasses are needed and near vision becomes blurrier gradually until about age 60.

3. If you obtain new glasses, and after getting them your vision without glasses, or with an old pair of glasses, seems better, that may mean that the glasses prescription needs to be fine-tuned, or you’re developing a problem such as cataracts. You should return to check things out.

4. If your glasses were prescribed with prism to reduce or eliminate double vision, it is very possible that you’ll notice the prior double vision is worse when those glasses with prism aren’t on. This is due to adapting to the new prism, and this is normal.

5. If with your new glasses your vision is blurrier, or you’re having eyestrain or headaches, or double vision, there may be a problem with the glasses prescription or fitting to your face and eyes. However, it is normal to take some time to get accustomed to a new prescription, so it’s worth giving things a couple weeks to improve before returning to get this checked out. Don’t worry, these issues cannot harm your eyes.

So, the notion that your vision becomes worse because of glasses is a myth, but if anything seems wrong with new glasses it’s best to return to have things checked out again.

Find out more

Mitchell Gossman, MD., is an ophthalmologist at Eye Associates of Central Minnesota. The office is located at 628 Roosevelt Road, Suite 101, in St. Cloud. To make an appointment or to learn more, call 320-774-3789 or email info@eaofcm.com.

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