How do I know if I need glasses

If you’ve recently found yourself squinting at the words in a book, struggling to keep details in focus, or needing to hold your phone closer or further away from your face than normal, you’re probably wondering if you need glasses.

In this guide, we will go through the common signs of needing glasses and the importance of having your eyesight checked by an optometrist to assess whether you need glasses.

Common Signs of Vision Issues

Blurry vision, headaches, and a difficulty seeing clearly are all common symptoms of eyesight issues. But there are some other symptoms that might surprise you that are an indication that you need glasses.

Close-up image of a woman focuses on work struggling to focus.

Having trouble focusing on things up close, like when you're reading?

If you’re struggling to see clearly when focusing on close tasks such as reading and crafting, or if you have to hold your phone at arm’s length to read text messages, this is a sign you may have presbyopia, or far sightedness.

Presbyopia is the gradual loss of your eyes' ability to focus on nearby objects. It's a natural, but annoying part of ageing.

Struggling to see or drive well at night

If navigating your way to the bathroom at night or driving in the dark feels more difficult than it used to, or if you have trouble making out objects, street signs, and licence plates in the dark, you might have early cataracts which can give you difficulty driving at night and glare when looking at lights.

Finding it hard to see things in the distance

If you’ve noticed that objects and people in the distance have become harder to see clearly or you are having difficulty reading street signs or billboards, you may be experiencing myopia – or nearsightedness. Other causes for blurry distance vision can include hyperopia – farsightedness, astigmatism, or cataracts.

Occasionally seeing double

Seeing double can be concerning as it can be a symptom of a serious underlying issue. So if you start seeing double, avoid driving and make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible who will send you to an optometrist to help rule out decompensating heterophoria. Some of the causes of double vision can include cataracts, eye dryness, infections, keratoconus, scars on the cornea and muscle weakness. But some serious illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure or other illnesses may also be the cause.

Feeling your eyes get tired, especially when you've been staring at screens

Woman tired at work at her desk.

Eye strain is a very common issue. Between our phones, laptops, TVs, and other screens in our daily life, eye strain is a common problem for many people. Eye strain can impact your routine and productivity, inhibiting your ability to focus or making you feel tired more quickly. Symptoms of eye strain include dry eyes, itchy eyes, burning eyes, or watery eyes. It can also cause headaches, soreness in your neck, shoulders, and back, and even a sensitivity to light.

Squinting or narrowing your eyes to see things better

If you have to squint or narrow your eyes to bring things into focus, this is an obvious sign that you might need glasses.

Dealing with blurry, fuzzy, or distorted vision

Blurry vision is often related to astigmatism and long or short sightedness. It makes things seem out of focus and might also be a sign of fatigue or eye strain. Sometimes, resting can help. But, if your vision fails to improve, it’s best to go for an eye test to find out if you need glasses or not.

Having a tough time adjusting your sight between different distances

Having difficulty adjusting the focus of your eyes between different distances can often be another sign of eye coordination issues, long sightedness, or presbyopia.

Getting frequent headaches

A woman having a headache and touching her forehead.

Getting frequent headaches

Frequent headaches can be another symptom of eye strain. But they can also be a sign of many other things and may not be related to eyesight at all. When you experience new headaches, it is wise to arrange an eye examination to rule out eye problems. While on some occasions a cause may be found, often, further investigation is required by your GP to identify the underlying cause.

Please bear in mind that just one or two of these symptoms may not mean you need glasses or be cause for concern, but if you experience a few or more at a time, it’s often a good indication that your eyesight needs testing.

Understanding Eye Conditions

Nearsightedness – This means that you struggle to see things at a distance but close up objects are clear. Farsightedness – The opposite of nearsightedness, this condition means you might see better at a distance than near.

Astigmatism – Astigmatism means that your eyes don’t focus evenly, and frequently have two (or sometimes more) focal points across their surface. People with astigmatism often see distorted images and can have difficulty with reading on screens. Presbyopia – A natural deterioration in your eyesight as you age. It usually affects people over the age of 40 and typically requires corrective glasses, contact lenses or surgery.

When to See an Eye Care Professional

  • You should see an optometrist if:
  • You have persistent problems with your vision
  • You have sudden changes in your vision
  • You have a family history of eye issues
  • You work with screens regularly
Patient having an eye examination.

Importance of Regular Eye Exams

It’s important to get regular eye check ups to maintain your overall eye health. But particularly important if you suspect your eyesight has changed in some way, or if you have an eye condition or history of family ocular issues that needs monitoring. Regular eye tests can help detect issues early, even if there are no apparent symptoms.

Tips for Eye Care To Help Your Vision

Taking care of your eyes is important for maintaining their health.

  • During screen use such as during work, it’s recommended that you make sure to take regular breaks (every 20 minutes) to look into the distance and rest your eyes for 20 seconds.
  • Protect your eyes from UV rays by wearing sunglasses that have UV blocking features.
  • Maintain a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Conclusion

Making sure you stay on top of your eye health is vital. And part of doing that is with regular eye tests. If it’s been a while since you last had your eyes tested you feel like there has been a recent change in your vision book an appointment for a Leighton’s Eye Test today.

Get your eyes checked

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Are contact lenses and glasses prescriptions the same?
Are contact lenses and glasses prescriptions the same?
While both glasses and contact lenses do the same job in correcting your eyesight, there are some obvious differences in how each is worn. Glasses rest on the nose and are positioned away from the eyes, whereas contact lenses are in direct contact with your eyeball. These differences are the fundamental reasons why contact lenses and glasses prescriptions are absolutely not the same. In this article, we’ll explain why in more detail. Contact lens vs glasses prescription – what’s the difference? Quite simply, the lenses in your glasses will be very different to your contact lenses. That’s because each type of lens refracts light differently and therefore during an eye test, different measurements have to be made. The measurements from one eye test are not compatible with the other. So, is the prescription for contacts the same as glasses? The answer is NO because you need to have 2 separate eye tests, which will result in 2 different prescriptions. Contact lens prescription A contact lens prescription comprises a set of measurements relating to the curvature, size and power of the contact lens along with other relevant information. These measurements are carried out by an optometrist, also known as an ophthalmic optician. Glasses prescription An optometrist or ophthalmic optician is also responsible for carrying out the actual eye tests for glasses and lenses. The tests are to determine the strength of the lenses you require, along with other factors such as eye dominance, pupillary distance and axis number. All this information will be included in your glasses prescription. Learn how to read your glasses prescription How to read your contact lens prescription Have you ever wondered what all the abbreviations and letters on your contact lens prescription mean? Read on to find out. What does Base Curve (BC) mean? Base Curve (BC) refers to the specific curve with which a contact lens is made. Different corneal curves will need different base curve lenses, although with modern more flexible contact lens materials, there is some lea way in this. What does Diameter (DIA) mean? This measurement refers to the Diameter (DIA) of the contact lens itself and corresponds with the size of your cornea. It is the measurement from one edge of the lens to the other and is measured in millimetres. What does Power/Sphere (PWR/SPH) mean? The term Power (PWR) together with Sphere (SPH) refers to the strength of the lens. For long-sightedness this figure will show a plus sign (+) and for short-sightedness, it will begin with a minus sign (-). Other contact lens prescription figures People who have an eye defect such as astigmatism, will need to wear toric lenses and therefore will see additional words or abbreviations on their prescription. The same applies to people who might have presbyopia or short-sightedness, and have a prescription for varifocal or multifocal contact lenses. Other contact lens prescription figures are Prism, which refers to a lens or lenses that are designed to correct double vision. Also, Pupillary Distance (PD), which is a term that relates to the distance between the centre of your pupils. It is measured in millimetres and it is important that this measurement is accurate to ensure clear and comfortable vision. OD - Stands for Oculus Dexter, which means ‘right eye’ OS - Stands for Oculus Sinister, which means ‘left eye’ BAL - Stands for Balance, which means both eyes are prescribed the same lenses. DS - Stands for Dioptres Sphere, which means the eyes are spherical in shape. VA - Stands for Visual Acuity, which is a measurement of how clearly a person can see with corrective lenses. This measurement is expressed as a fraction. Your contact lens prescription might also include the brand or manufacturer’s name. What does Cylinder (CYL) mean? The term Cylinder (CYL) refers to an astigmatic prescription. if you have astigmatism then your eye will be more oval-shaped as opposed to globe-shaped. With this condition, you would need specially designed contact lenses called Toric lenses. What does Axis (AX) mean? Axis (AX) refers to the angle that the cylinder or astigmatic correction is placed in order to provide clear vision. This is a number, which is measured in degrees from 0 to 179. What does Addition (ADD) mean? The term Addition (ADD) refers to the amount of additional correction required to see clearly nearby and is given over and above the distance contact lens prescription. Multifocal contact lenses will have an ‘add’ in their prescription. An ‘add’ is generally only required when you develop presbyopia (an age related inflexibility of the intraocular lens, that typically starts between age 40and 45) What does Dominant mean? Most people have a Dominant eye which they unconsciously favour slightly, and a non-dominant eye. Certain contact lenses are best fitted taking this into account (generally multifocal contact lenses). Typically the dominant eye is fitted with the D lens (for better Distance vision) and the non-dominant eye is for better Near vision (this would be the N lens). Can you convert a glasses prescription to a contact lens prescription? No, it’s not possible to do this because the optics of the lenses are different. Likewise, you cannot convert a contact lens prescription to a glasses prescription. How to get a contact lens prescription If you would like to know how to get contact lenses then you will first need to make an appointment with your optician for a contact lens prescription. Your appointment with your optician will include an assessment and a contact lens eye test. This is a different eye test to the type you would need for glasses. After your initial assessment and test, you will then need to have a contact lens fitting. Your optician will demonstrate how to safely insert and remove your lenses and how to care for them. Finally, you will receive your free written contact lens prescription. You can buy your contact lenses from the optician that carried out your eye test or you can buy them from another optician or an online supplier. Contact lenses need to be reviewed more frequently You should be aware that your eyesight can change over time so it’s important you get your eyes retested at least every 2 years. If you notice any changes in your vision at any time before that period then contact your optician for a check-up. Book a contact lens consultation today.
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