Do I need glasses?

As we age, the need for prescription eyeglasses emerges, which is sometimes inevitable. This might be because of various reasons, such as our lifestyle, hereditary issues, etc. However, weakening of the vision of our eyes doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a gradual process, and some might even notice it early. 

A good number of people consult a doctor right away. Still, there are also people who avoid it because of some reasons like laziness, inconvenience, or even ignorance of the symptoms thinking that your eyes are just tired. So now the question of importance here is how to understand whether the eyes are just strained or if the power of the eyes is increasing and you might need a doctor’s consultation.

There are certain questions you would want to ask yourself in such situations. These questions are mentioned below:

Do I Need Glasses?

As we age, the need for prescription eyeglasses emerges, which is sometimes inevitable. This might be because of various reasons, such as our lifestyle, hereditary issues, etc. However, weakening of the vision of our eyes doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a gradual process, and some might even notice it early. 

A good number of people consult a doctor right away. Still, there are also people who avoid it because of some reasons like laziness, inconvenience, or even ignorance of the symptoms thinking that your eyes are just tired. So now the question of importance here is how to understand whether the eyes are just strained or if the power of the eyes is increasing and you might need a doctor’s consultation.

There are certain questions you would want to ask yourself in such situations. These questions are mentioned below:

Is my vision blurring?

Blurring vision might happen when you stare at a particular place for a long time or if your eyes are tired. If this is the case, rub your eyes lightly, and your vision will return to normal. However, if your vision does not get clear even after rubbing or washing your eyes, and you have difficulty seeing objects close to you or far away from you, you should check your eyes and get the required prescription glasses.

This blurring of vision can be caused due to several reasons, such as far-sightedness, short-sightedness, or astigmatism.

Is my vision blurring?

Blurring vision might happen when you stare at a particular place for a long time or if your eyes are tired. If this is the case, rub your eyes lightly, and your vision will return to normal. However, if your vision does not get clear even after rubbing or washing your eyes, and you have difficulty seeing objects close to you or far away from you, you should check your eyes and get the required prescription glasses.

This blurring of vision can be caused due to several reasons, such as far-sightedness, short-sightedness, or astigmatism.

Am I experiencing eye strain?

Eye strain can be caused due to various reasons, which include but are not restricted to the following:

1.      Using the screen for long hours

2.      Under harsh lighting

3.      Being in poor light for a long time

4.      Driving for a long time continuously

5.      Extreme stress

6.      Exposing yourself to dry air

7.      Fatigue

If this eye strain prolongs for long, it can severely impact your routine and productivity. For example, if your eyes are strained, you will often feel the urge to rub them and have itchy or watery eyes. This can also result in headaches or sometimes soreness in the neck as well.

Am I experiencing eye strain?

Eye strain can be caused due to various reasons, which include but are not restricted to the following:

1.      Using the screen for long hours

2.      Under harsh lighting

3.      Being in poor light for a long time

4.      Driving for a long time continuously

5.      Extreme stress

6.      Exposing yourself to dry air

7.      Fatigue

If this eye strain prolongs for long, it can severely impact your routine and productivity. For example, if your eyes are strained, you will often feel the urge to rub them and have itchy or watery eyes. This can also result in headaches or sometimes soreness in the neck as well.

Am I experiencing headaches more frequently?

Headache is a common symptom of many problems like migraine, fever, cold & cough, etc. Therefore, one might not instantly connect having a headache to having some problem in the eyes. However, when these headaches are related to the eyes, they result from severe eye strain. This happens when we try too hard to focus on a single thing as the optic nerve feels that tension which causes inflammation. 

Due to this inflammation, the strain can travel from the eyes to the brain through this optic nerve. If this headache persists for long, then it is time for you to see an ophthalmologist and get reading glasses.

Am I experiencing headaches more frequently?

Headache is a common symptom of many problems like migraine, fever, cold & cough, etc. Therefore, one might not instantly connect having a headache to having some problem in the eyes. However, when these headaches are related to the eyes, they result from severe eye strain. This happens when we try too hard to focus on a single thing as the optic nerve feels that tension which causes inflammation. 

Due to this inflammation, the strain can travel from the eyes to the brain through this optic nerve. If this headache persists for long, then it is time for you to see an ophthalmologist and get reading glasses.

Am I seeing double?

This is one of the most recognized symptoms if you have weak eyes. The eyes are one of the most sensitive parts of our body. Seeing double thins is a serious issue and needs medication. There are multiple factors that enable you to see a clear and coherent picture, and damage to any one of these will distort your vision. Some of these factors are:

1.      In case you have an eye infection

2.      If you have severe diabetes

3.      In case of a brain tumor

4.      If you get a stroke

5.      In case of migraines

6.      If there is dryness in your eyes

7.      If you have cataract

8.      If there are scars on the cornea

To help the eyes cure and function properly, you will have to get reading glasses.

Am I seeing double?

This is one of the most recognized symptoms if you have weak eyes. The eyes are one of the most sensitive parts of our body. Seeing double thins is a serious issue and needs medication. There are multiple factors that enable you to see a clear and coherent picture, and damage to any one of these will distort your vision. Some of these factors are:

1.      In case you have an eye infection

2.      If you have severe diabetes

3.      In case of a brain tumor

4.      If you get a stroke

5.      In case of migraines

6.      If there is dryness in your eyes

7.      If you have cataract

8.      If there are scars on the cornea

To help the eyes cure and function properly, you will have to get reading glasses.

Am I rubbing my eyes often?

This is another one of the most common symptoms of weak eyes. Due to dryness in your eyes, you will have a constant urge to keep rubbing your eyes. This might even be possible if you are not able to see things clearly. If this problem persists for long, you must consult an eye specialist and get your eye exam done.

Most common eye problems that require prescription glasses

1.      Astigmatism

In this eye condition, the light is not distributed onto the retina. This results in a blurry or distorted image. While astigmatism does not always distort the image, you still need a prescription eyeglass to soothe your eyes from the strain. This can happen at any age.

2.      Presbyopia

This condition develops as we age and is a very common eye problem. As we age, the eyes lose their flexibility, making it hard for our eyes to focus on the objects near us. This is the reason why many people require reading glasses as they age.

3.      Far-sightedness

In Far-sightedness, the objects close to us become blurry while we can see the objects away from us quite clearly. Here you would be required to wear your reading glasses. This can occur if the size of the eyeball or if the cornea is not shaped well.

4.      Short-sightedness

In the case of short-sightedness, the objects far away from us are blurry, while those close to us appear very clearly. This may result in difficulty in reading, playing, watching television, or using screens. In such cases you will be required to wear prescription glasses. 

Am I rubbing my eyes often?

This is another one of the most common symptoms of weak eyes. Due to dryness in your eyes, you will have a constant urge to keep rubbing your eyes. This might even be possible if you are not able to see things clearly. If this problem persists for long, you must consult an eye specialist and get your eye exam done.

Most common eye problems that require prescription glasses

1.      Astigmatism

In this eye condition, the light is not distributed onto the retina. This results in a blurry or distorted image. While astigmatism does not always distort the image, you still need a prescription eyeglass to soothe your eyes from the strain. This can happen at any age.

2.      Presbyopia

This condition develops as we age and is a very common eye problem. As we age, the eyes lose their flexibility, making it hard for our eyes to focus on the objects near us. This is the reason why many people require reading glasses as they age.

3.      Far-sightedness

In Far-sightedness, the objects close to us become blurry while we can see the objects away from us quite clearly. Here you would be required to wear your reading glasses. This can occur if the size of the eyeball or if the cornea is not shaped well.

4.      Short-sightedness

In the case of short-sightedness, the objects far away from us are blurry, while those close to us appear very clearly. This may result in difficulty in reading, playing, watching television, or using screens. In such cases you will be required to wear prescription glasses. 

How do you get a confirmation for what type of glasses you require?

Well, the best way to find out about this is to consult an eye specialist. While we may be able to understand that we need prescription glasses for our eyes, the type of glasses you need and the eye condition you are having are something that only a specialist can answer. If you have both shortsightedness and farsightedness, then you can get a pair of progressive lenses as per the doctor’s advise. Therefore, it is crucial to get your eyes examined at least once in every six months. However, if you have any of the above-mentioned symptoms, you must get your eye exam done immediately. 

How do you get a confirmation for what type of glasses you require?

Well, the best way to find out about this is to consult an eye specialist. While we may be able to understand that we need prescription glasses for our eyes, the type of glasses you need and the eye condition you are having are something that only a specialist can answer. If you have both shortsightedness and farsightedness, then you can get a pair of progressive lenses as per the doctor’s advise. Therefore, it is crucial to get your eyes examined at least once in every six months. However, if you have any of the above-mentioned symptoms, you must get your eye exam done immediately.