Have you recently gotten a new eyewear prescription? It can be wonderful to suddenly be able to see clearly! However, it isn’t uncommon for people to have to adjust their prescription. This can happen for many different reasons. For instance, if you are tired or slightly dehydrated when you get your eyes checked, your results could be wrong. Even changes in your blood sugar levels can affect your vision. Read on as a local Redding CA eye doctor lists some signs that your eye wear prescription is off.

How Long Does It Take To Adjust To A New Eyewear Prescription?

It can take your eyes a little time to adjust to a new prescription. It’s normal for people to experience a transitional stage as their eyes are getting used to the new prescription, particularly when changing to bifocals or trifocals. If your prescription has only changed in one eye, you may also need a transitional period.

That said, in most cases, it should only take a few days to adjust. Some people do need a week or more, but that is the exception, rather than the rule. If your symptoms aren’t improving after three days, contact your Redding CA optometry clinic immediately. If symptoms are getting worse, or new ones are appearing, then give us a call immediately.

What Are The Signs That You Need A Different Eyewear Prescription?

It’s not unusual for people to need a few days to adjust to a new prescription. However, those changes should be mild. Many people often immediately see—and appreciate—the difference an updated prescription makes in their vision. However, sometimes it does take a bit of tweaking to dial a prescription in properly.

Here are some of the signs that your prescription isn’t right for you:

Blurriness

Blurriness is one of the clearest signs that a prescription is off. However, it is also a warning sign of many different vision problems.  If things look fuzzy or out of focus, call your eye doctor.

Headaches

Eyestrain can often lead to headaches. If you start getting frequent headaches just after getting new glasses, it could be that your prescription needs to be adjusted.

Vertigo/Dizziness

Vertigo can also be a warning sign that you need a different prescription. This may be most noticeable when you are walking, or when you first stand up after sitting down for a while.

Tunnel Vision

Tunnel vision can also happen when a prescription isn’t quite right. And like many of these warning signs, it can also be an indication of a problem developing with your eyes.  If you are seeing distant things in clear focus, but closer objects are blurry, contact your eye doctor.

Quick Test

Try closing just one eye for a moment. If your vision is still blurry, you may need a new prescription. However, if you can see clearly with just one eye open, it’s possible that your eyes are just still getting used to your new prescription.

How Often Should You Get Your Eyes Checked?

Regular exams are very important! This isn’t just about being proactive and keeping an ‘eye’ on your vision. It’s also important to realize that many eye problems are asymptomatic at first. Because of the unique physical makeup of the eye, and its concentration of blood vessels, an eye doctor can often detect other health conditions, sometimes before symptoms have arisen! That list includes things like lupus, high blood pressure, and even diabetes. Catching these problems earlier, when they are most easily—and often most successfully—treated can make all the difference in the world.

Here are the basic guidelines for scheduling eye exams:

Children

The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that eye examinations be done at six months and again at three years of age. Your child should also have an eye exam before entering first grade, and every other year after that until age 18. This is in addition to the basic vision screens your child may have at school. 

In between appointments, watch for any signs of vision problems. Squinting, difficulty reading, short attention span, and headaches are a few common ones. 

Adults

Adults between the ages of 20-30 will need their eyes checked every 2-3 years. Don’t go more than 4-5 years between exams, at the most. Once you hit the big 4-0, we recommend getting your eyes checked every 2-4 years. Then, when you reach age 65, you’ll need to start getting more frequent exams, as this is when age-related changes often start to take effect. For those over 65, we recommend getting exams done every year, or every other year at most.

Other Factors

The guidelines listed above are for those who have no family history of eye problems and are not experiencing any signs of vision issues. If eye trouble runs in your family, you’ll need to get your eyes checked a bit more often.

If you spend a lot of time on a computer, your eye doctor may also recommend more frequent exams. 

These days, it’s probably safe to say that a lot of people would fall under that particular umbrella. Here’s some ‘eye-opening’ data. Research published this January by Datareportal revealed that the average internet user (age 16 to 64) spends nearly seven hours a day online. That totals up to about 47 hours a week, 101 days a year. To put it another way, someone who started going online at 18 and lived to be 80 would spend 17 years of their adult life online. That’s a lot of eye strain, and a lot of blue light exposure!

Remember, when it comes to taking care of your eyes, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. If you are overdue, take time to schedule an appointment now.

What Are Warning Signs Of Vision Problems?

In between exams, it’s very important for you to take heed of any changes in your eyesight. If you need corrective eyewear and don’t wear contacts or glasses, getting a proper prescription is crucial. Otherwise, you may be putting additional strain on your eyes, which will only make matters worse.

Schedule an appointment immediately if you are having any of the following symptoms:

•    Eye Pain

•    Redness

•    Itchiness

•    Burning

•    Watering

•    Floaters

•    Headaches

•    Blurred Vision

•    Light Sensitivity

•    Double Vision

•    Fluctuating Vision

•    Photopsia

•    Halos Around Lights

•    Dilated Pupil

•    Droopy Eyelid

•    Fading Colors

•    Frequent Eye Rubbing

•    Dry Eyes

•    Night Blindness

•    Excessive Tearing

•    Spots In Your Field Of Vision

•    Squinting

•    Sudden Development Of Persistent Floaters

•    Swelling

•    Trouble Seeing Objects On Either Side

These symptoms can in some cases be a sign that you need visonwear. In other cases, they can be indicative of some very serious eye problems … some of which can result in vision loss and even blindness if left untreated. Contact your Redding CA eye care center right away if you notice any of them.

In Conclusion: Getting a new prescription can make a huge difference in your vision. While it’s not unusual to need a few days to adjust, if you experience discomfort or vision issues beyond that, or if symptoms get worse, you’ll want to contact your optometrist right away.

Make An Appointment At Your Redding CA Eye Care Clinic

Are you overdue for an eye exam? Please feel free to call us anytime! As your local Redding CA eye care clinic, we are always here to help!