Question
I am struggling with my new glasses! Do you think the prescription could be incorrect, or that I have the wrong type of lenses for me? I am not sure what to do.
Answer
New glasses feeling “off” is one of the most common concerns we hear in any optometry clinic. The good news is that almost every case of “these just don’t feel right” has an explanation, and most of them are fixable without redoing the whole eye examination from scratch.
A wrong prescription is actually the less common culprit. Far more often, the issue is adaptation. Your brain has spent years building a comfortable visual world with your old prescription, and it can take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks to get used to something different.
An initial sense that surfaces are tilted or a “swimmy” feeling around the edges of the lens is usually an eye/brain adjustment rather than a true error in the prescription.
Lens design matters more than people expect, too, and lenses are certainly not all created equal. These days, manufacturers offer a remarkable range of options to customize lenses to match your lifestyle and visual needs. Beyond the lens itself, pupil position, and how far the glasses sit from your eyes, and at what angle, can dramatically affect how well a perfectly accurate prescription actually performs on your face. None of that has anything to do with the prescription being wrong.
My advice is this: first, give yourself time to get used to something new. A little perseverance will go a long way. Pay attention to what is specifically bothering you: is it your vision for distance, reading, or something in between? Does raising, lowering, or tilting the glasses make a difference? Come in armed with this troubleshooting information so an expert can check that the lenses were made correctly and the glasses are sitting the way they should. Sometimes, even a small positional adjustment can make a world of difference.
If you’ve had the fit fine-tuned and your visual comfort is still not where it should be, then a re-check appointment with your optometrist is the right next step. If a power adjustment or different lens design is called for, we can get it sorted out together and get you seeing as well as possible.
Come See Us Soon
At Mayfair Optometric Clinic, we provide a welcoming environment for patients to receive eye exams and pick out the perfect eyewear that works for each individual. Please give us a call to book your appointment with Dr. Peddle or myself.
