After struggling with blurry vision for years, I finally realized that it was time to consult with a professional. Simply put, I was tired of dealing with the struggles of acting like I could see when I really couldn't. It was embarrassing, and I just wanted to be able to participate like normal. I was nervous for the eye appointment, but my doctor was incredible. He walked me through every aspect of the exam and calmed my fears about permanent eye damage. This blog is all about working with an optometrist to get the vision experience that you really deserve.
Are you suffering from a lot of headaches that you're pretty sure are due to your glasses? You don't have to go on living with the pain. Here's a look at some common reasons why glasses cause headaches, along with some tips for addressing them.
Did you just get a new prescription?
If you just got a new prescription, it can take your brain some time to get used to interpreting the changed signals it's receiving from your eyes as a result of the new prescription. Try giving yourself a week or two to adjust. In the meantime, you can use over-the-counter pain relievers when the headaches get bad. Give your eyes rest periods during the day by just closing them for a minute or so every hour. This should help reduce the frequency of headaches. If you're still getting a lot of headaches a few weeks after you get a new prescription, talk to your eye doctor. It's possible you were given the wrong prescription or that your prescription needs further adjusting.
Are the headaches worse during the week when you spend a lot of time staring at the screen?
Glare off the computer screen can bounce off your glasses, leading to headaches when you're spending a lot of time looking at the screen. Try putting an anti-glare covering over your computer screen. If this does not work or if you're not allowed to modify your work computer screen, see if your optician can fit you for a pair of glare-reducing computer glasses to wear whenever you're sitting behind a screen. These glasses are designed to increase the screen contrast and filter out harsh light wavelengths so that your eye muscles can relax. More relaxed eye muscles will lead to fewer headaches.
Do your eyeglasses feel like they're pressing on your nose?
Your glasses should rest gently on your nose. They should not press on it or squeeze it. If they do put too much pressure on your nose, this can lead to headaches. If your glasses have adjustable nose pads, take them into your optician and explain that they are feeling too tight. Your optician can adjust the pads so that they rest more gently on your nose. If your glasses have fixed nose pads, you will need to buy new frames. Try on a lot of pairs before you buy, ensuring you purchase one that puts minimal pressure on your nose. It's probably best to choose a style that does have adjustable nose pads so that your optician can adjust them properly.
Are the earpieces pressing on your temples?
This is another common pressure point. If your frames are too narrow, or if you bent them and they now press on one of your temples because they're misshapen, this pressure could be causing your headaches. Have your optician adjust your frames to widen the space between the earpieces. If your frames are actually bent, you may need new ones.
Has it been a long time since you've had an eye exam?
If your eyesight has changed but you're still wearing the same glasses, this could be causing your headaches. Experts recommend that adults ages 18 to 60 have their eyes examined every 2 years. If it has been longer than 2 years since you've had your eyes examined (or even if it has not been quite two years but you suspect that changes in vision may be to blame for your headaches), then schedule an appointment for a routine eye exam. If your eye doctor detects that your vision has changed and writes you a new prescription, you can expect the headaches to fade once you're able to see properly again.
If you're not able to get to the bottom of what's causing your glasses to give you headaches, talk to an eye doctor, such as those at Envision Eyecare. This is a relatively common problem, and they can use the experiences they've had with past patients to evaluate what may be causing your headaches.
Share14 March 2016
