Can Glasses Make Vision Worse?
From working as an Optometrist in South Africa to being Practice Manager for For Eyes Optometrist here in WA, there is one question that I hear almost on a daily basis- “won’t these glasses make my eyes weaker?”. This seems to be of particular concern for those who have had pretty good eye sight their whole lives, witnessing their own grandparents struggle with simple near tasks when their readers were not in reaching distance, and now somewhere in their forties, they themselves have been advised that they may need the daunting reader to make their day to day lives a little more comfortable. And it’s only natural to assume that once this journey begins, it’s only downhill from here. And it is. Sorry to say, but to no fault of the glasses.
Fremantle Herald Feature: Will Wearing Glasses Make Your Eyes Worse
Read our full article at the Fremantle Herald here: https://heraldonlinejournal.com/2024/10/11/will-my-glasses-make-my-eyes-weaker/
Does wearing glasses make your eyes weaker?
No, wearing glasses won’t make your eyes weaker. The natural process of ageing, particularly around the age of 40, causes changes in your eyes that make it harder to focus on near objects. Glasses simply help by correcting this issue, but they don't cause your eyes to become weaker.
Why do I need glasses now if I’ve had good eyesight my whole life?
As we age, the lens inside our eyes hardens, and the muscles responsible for focusing become less effective. This makes it harder for the eyes to focus on nearby objects, especially in your 40s and beyond. Needing glasses for reading or other tasks is a normal part of the ageing process.
What happens to the muscles in my eyes as I age?
The ciliary muscles, which help your eyes focus on close objects, weaken with age. These muscles are smooth muscles, which means they don’t respond to exercise like other muscles in the body. As these muscles weaken and your lens hardens, it becomes harder for your eyes to focus without help from glasses.
Can wearing reading glasses make me dependent on them?
You may feel like you become more dependent on your glasses over time, but it’s not the glasses making your eyes worse. As your lens continues to harden with age and your eye muscles weaken, your eyes will naturally become more reliant on the glasses to see clearly at close distances.
What type of glasses might I need for office work?
If you're struggling with seeing different focal lengths, especially with tasks like using multiple computer screens, your optometrist might suggest an office lens, or IT style lens. These glasses offer a slight variation in prescription from the bottom to the top of the lens, giving you a more comfortable range of vision for different tasks.
Are there advanced lenses that can help with age-related vision problems?
Yes! Spectacle lens technology has evolved, and there are now specialised lenses designed to provide comfort and wearability, especially for people working in environments with varied visual demands. Many users of office lenses report that they shouldn’t have worried about getting glasses in the first place!
How Can For Eyes Optometrist Help
At For Eyes Optometrist, we understand how important it is to find the right solution for your vision needs, especially as changes in eyesight can be overwhelming. With a team of highly qualified optometrists in Fremantle, we offer comprehensive eye exams tailored to detect and manage a range of conditions, including the need for reading glasses as you age.
Whether it’s your first time needing vision correction or you're looking to upgrade your current prescription, we provide personalised advice and access to the latest lens technologies, including advanced office lenses that make day-to-day tasks more comfortable. Our goal is to ensure that you not only see better but feel confident in the care you receive, so you can continue living life with clear, comfortable vision.
