Getting Used to New Glasses

If you wear glasses, you’re probably familiar with the odd feeling that comes with a new pair of lenses. That disorienting feeling is due to your eyes adjusting to the new lenses. Just like new shoes that need to be broken in, new glasses can sometimes need a bit of time before they feel more natural. Many people’s eyes won’t adjust right away—and there’s nothing wrong with that.

In this guide, we’ll be discussing how long it takes to get used to new glasses, some of the symptoms you might experience, and how to help yourself adjust to the new glasses.

How Long Does it Take to Get Used to New Glasses?

It will take most people 3-4 days to get used to their new pair of glasses although it can take up to a week or longer for some. This depends on whether you’re brand new to glasses, how strong your prescription is, how much of a difference there is between your old prescription and your new prescription, or how much your eyes were overcompensating before you got your glasses. Adapting to your new glasses takes time because your brain and eyes are adjusting to the changes and trying to work together with your glasses to clear your vision.

If you’re still experiencing discomfort after 2-3 weeks, contact your optometrist for advice on next steps.

Learn more about How should glasses fit.

What Are the Symptoms of Adjusting to New Glasses?

When you first put on your new glasses, it’s common to feel a little disoriented or have some other side effects.

woman woman having headache and tired her eyes from overworked on computer screen hand holding eyeglasses

Common symptoms you might experience with new glasses include:

  • Difficulty focusing your eyes
  • Mild visual distortions – such as a “fishbowl effect” that makes the edges of your field of vision slightly curved
  • Eye strain
  • Eye migraines
  • Issues with depth perception and spatial awareness
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Headaches

Typically, these symptoms are mild and resolve themselves after a few days as you adjust to your new glasses. If you’re still having difficulty or experiencing symptoms after a few days, feeling dizzy long-term, or if any of these symptoms are disrupting your day-to-day tasks, speak to your optometrist for advice.

Why Does it Take So Long to Get Used to New Glasses?

Sometimes, even if you have the same eyesight prescription, a new pair of glasses can feel odd at first and take a few days to adjust to. This could be due to a couple of reasons. First, the lenses might have a slightly different alignment than what you’re used to. Second, the frame style can feel unfamiliar if your last frames were very different, especially if you’re going from a small frame style to a pair of larger frames. Additionally, the new frames may have fit issues such as being too tight which can also cause discomfort.

Tired Worker with Irritated Eyes Looks at Glasses

It takes a while for muscle memory to kick in and, as the muscles in your eyes are getting used to working in a different way, it can take a few days for those muscles to get used to working with the new prescription – especially if this is your first pair of glasses and you’re getting used to not straining your eyes to see clearly.

However, there might be other factors that are affecting your ability to acclimatise to your new glasses. If you feel like your symptoms are particularly bad, or if they’re lasting too long, there could be another issue causing the problems such as an error in your prescription or scratches on the lenses. Contact your opticians to discuss any concerns you may have.

How to Adjust to New Glasses

The adjustment period can be frustrating and there’s no way to fast-track getting used to new glasses. But there are a few things to keep in mind when trying to adjust to your new pair of spectacles.

  1. Make sure your frames fit your face – they shouldn’t be too loose or too tight, they should fit your face just right. Your opticians should fit your glasses to your face and head to help with this.
  2. Put your glasses on when you start your day – a sudden change part way through the day can be more disorienting than starting your day wearing them.
  3. Wear them correctly – if you only need your glasses for certain tasks like reading or driving, ensure you’re wearing them correctly and only use them for that task to avoid further eye strain.
  4. Stop wearing your old glasses – it can be tempting to switch back to your old glasses if your eyes feel strained but doing so sets you back and means it’ll take longer to adjust to your new ones.
  5. Take off your glasses if your eyes feel itchy, red, or sore – put them back on when the symptoms have passed.
  6. If you’re adjusting to a new pair of bifocals or varifocals, try turning your head rather than just your eyes.
  7. Even if it feels uncomfortable, persevere – the longer you wear your new glasses, the quicker your eyes will adjust.
  8. Check your prescription – Adjusting to new glasses shouldn’t take longer than a few weeks. So if you continue to struggle with your new glasses for longer than that, it could be because of an error in your prescription.

Common Issues with New Glasses

Tired Asian Businesswoman Feeling Dizzy from Overworking Is Rubbing her temple.

Wearing glasses changes the way your eye muscles are used to working. Even though it will improve your vision, it just takes a bit of time for the muscles in your eyes to adapt from their usual habits. There are a number of reasons why your glasses might not be comfortable and you may not be adjusting to them properly.

Some common reasons include:

  • Headaches – Because your new frames need to be fit to your head it’s common to get headaches when getting used to new glasses. Poorly fitted frames, specifically too tight frames can trigger headaches.
  • Poorly fitted frames – whether they’re either too loose or too tight. Using them for other activities – You might experience headaches if you’re using your glasses for something they’re not intended for, such as using your reading glasses to watch TV.
  • Digital eye strain – Your eyes generally need to work harder when using screens. Spending lots of time on our smartphones, laptops or tablets means our eyes need to work hard to take in the moving images, glare and flickering from screens. Therefore, digital eye strain is a real risk when you’re getting used to new glasses. The distance we view digital screens is often in-between our vision zones – in other words, it’s just another thing that our eyes need to adjust to.

If you’re having issues with your new glasses, book a style consultation with Leightons to find the perfect fit – our experts will help to make sure your frames fit your face properly, your lenses are the correct prescription, and there’s nothing else wrong with the glasses themselves that might be interfering with your vision or ability to adjust to your new glasses.

Leightons are here to help and offer our expertise – Find a Branch to pop in store or book an appointment.

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How to stop glasses steaming up
A common problem for many glasses wearers is the lenses steaming up. During the summer months, fogged-up glasses are less of an issue but are much more prevalent during the cold winter months when the difference in indoor and outdoor temperatures causes condensation. Steamed-up glasses lenses can be frustrating and inconvenient, so we’ve compiled a list of our top 8 tips to help prevent them from fogging. Why do glasses fog up? Typically, glasses fog up because of the temperature change from indoors to outdoors and vice versa. You may notice some people’s glasses fog up more easily than others and that’s because it can also depend on your own body temperature. For example, after exercise or a hot shower, when the moist air from your breath and around your head hits the cold lenses, they’ll fog up. How to stop your glasses from fogging up: 8 tips While steamed-up glasses are often inevitable as we, unfortunately, can’t control the weather, there are preventative measures you can take to help keep your glasses as clear as possible. 1. Let your glasses adjust to temperature changes With the sudden temperature change from stepping into a warm room from the cold outdoors, your glasses will need some time to adjust. If possible, set them aside for a few moments to clear up. The same goes for going outside from indoors. If you can't see clearly without glasses and are unable to take them off, to prevent them from fogging up indoors, you could instead try to adjust the temperature inside, such as opening a window, so it isn't such a drastic change. 2. Ensure your glasses fit Finding the right fit for your glasses can be tricky. If they’re too big or the sides are slightly crooked, they’ll be sliding down your nose every five minutes and constantly steam up from your warm breath. 3. Opt for anti-fog lenses There are many different types of lenses to choose from, and if your glasses steaming up is a big concern, choosing anti-fog lenses will be a great option. These lenses have a unique coating that attracts and evenly distributes moisture across the lens surface, preventing water droplets from forming and obstructing vision. 4. Wear contact lenses when exercising To avoid your glasses fogging up as your temperature rises while exercising, the most effective solution is to wear contact lenses instead. When deciding between contact lenses and glasses, keep in mind that contact lenses do not fog, and they’ll be more comfortable and convenient to wear while exercising. 5. Try anti-fog products There are several anti-fog products available to try, including: Anti-fog spray: This quick and easy solution creates a very thin film on your lenses to protect them from moisture. Simply spray the lenses directly and let them dry for a while before wearing them. Once dried, you can wear them out in the cold and enjoy clear-sighted vision. Anti-fog wipes: these are perfect to use on the go. Simply use the wipe in a circular motion, let them dry and pop the glasses back on fog-free. 6. Watch out for hot drinks As comforting as hot tea, coffee, or hot chocolate is in the winter, they are notorious for fogging glasses. The warmth released from the cup as you take a sip will instantly steam up your glasses. Luckily, putting a lid on the cup will prevent fogging from happening. 7. Keep your lenses clean It’s important to keep your lenses clean as dirt, grease and dust on your glasses will allow the fog to accumulate, making the situation worse and even harder to see out of. We suggest cleaning your glasses at least once every day and then storing them properly when you’re not using them. When they do steam up, wipe them with a silky lens cleaning cloth to prevent them from becoming smeary. It’s also wise not to touch the lenses with your bare hands as this could transfer oils from your skin and any skin products you may have used, such as moisturiser or hand cream, making them cloudy. 8. Make sure your face mask is not too big If you’re wearing glasses with a face mask, make sure the mask is well-fitted and not too big to stop your breath from escaping through the top of the mask and fogging up your glasses. Try to also leave a gap between the face mask and your nose to allow the heat to escape without reaching your glasses. Avoid home remedies that can damage your lenses While information online may advise you to try home remedies, such as washing your glasses with soap or using shaving cream, as a way to create a barrier, we strongly recommend against using these methods, as you could risk damaging your lenses and needing to buy replacements. Book your eye test today Find a Leightons branch near you
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