Having an imperfect vision is more common than one would think. Roughly 75% of adults use some form of vision corrector, ranging from glasses to contacts. But whether you’re a lifetime wearer of eyeglasses or only recently got your first pair, it should be kept in mind that your current prescription is not likely to be your permanent one.
It is recommended that an average adult see an optometrist every one to two years to do a prescription check. By finding the best optometrist in Vancouver for you, you can ensure that your eyewear is up to date and benefiting you in the best way it can.
Wearing the wrong prescription eyewear can have negative side effects, ranging from vision problems to pain. The following symptoms are warning signs that it might be time for a prescription update for your eyewear.
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Blurry Vision
If you find you’re experiencing occasional bouts of sudden blurred vision or like your vision is not improving when wearing your eyewear, this can be a sign that your prescription is not helping. This blurred vision can occur in either one or both eyes. By taking a comprehensive eye test, your examiner will be able to tell you which eyes need which prescription and help adjust your eyewear accordingly.
Squinting
When a person lacks natural clarity and focuses on viewing something, your eyes naturally begin to squint to help you better perceive what you are looking at. Most don’t even realize that they are squinting until they go to look away or feel strain in their eyes.
Squinting for long periods can cause damage to your eye from excessive strain and can worsen any existing vision problems. If you catch yourself squinting at your phone, computer screen, or pages of books, you may need to update your prescriptions.
Headaches
If you suffer from unexplained chronic headaches, improper eyewear may be to blame. When your brain detects a vision change, it works hard to try and correct itself to allow you to see more clearly. This over-working can cause the brain to wear itself out and cause headaches. Furthermore, furrowed brows from squinting can also cause tension headaches between the eyes.
Depending on the type of vision problems you have, your headaches may vary. For example, nearsighted people are more likely to suffer headaches around their eyebrow region when trying to see things in the distance. In contrast, farsighted people may receive chronic headaches when staring at up-close items like screens or book pages.
Vertigo
Vertigo is a serious condition that is often confused with simple dizziness. Vertigo leaves a person feeling unbalanced, even if they’re stationary or laying flat, and can throw off their ability to walk properly. However, while dizziness can often be cured simply by sitting or laying down for a while, vertigo isn’t so easily solved.
As vertigo can be caused by poor depth perception, having outdated prescription eyewear can cause an imbalance of depth, leading to chronic vertigo while wearing the eyewear. If you have never had a history of vertigo before and have either recently changed prescription or are overdue for a change, contact your eye care specialist as soon as possible.
