The simple idea that you need to wear glasses can cause a lot of anxiety and concern, as suddenly, you realize that you may not be as attractive to others as you once were. Glasses don’t actually make you attractive, but they can still save your eyesight and maybe even your life. You can’t leave your glasses at home if you have to drive the car, for instance.
Let’s suppose you don’t like the idea of wearing contact lenses, as there are plenty of downsides. They cost more and may even be harder to maintain compared to a pair of good old glasses. Therefore, with the “glasses or contact lenses” dilemma out of the way, let’s go ahead and find out the basics of what you need to know before starting to wear glasses:
Prescription and purpose
First of all, you need to have a solid reason for why you need glasses and what the prescription entails. There are plenty of vision problems that require the wearing of glasses, such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, farsightedness, or other issues.
Knowing your prescription details will help you understand how the glasses will correct your vision.
Get a consultation with an optometrist
It’s crucial to have your eyes examined by a qualified optometrist in order to determine your prescription accurately. Such a professional will even check for any underlying eye condition that could need additional attention.
Frame selection
You will also have to choose the correct frames that suit your personal style and fit comfortably on your face. Frames can usually come in various sizes, shapes, and materials. In other words, you need to take your time to find the frames that you feel confident and comfortable wearing.
Adjustment period
You also need to understand that there may also be an adjustment period as the eyes need to get used to wearing glasses. It’s normal for things to look a bit different and distorted at first, but there’s no need to worry too much. Just be patient, as your eyes will adapt over time.
Cleaning and care
You need to clean your glasses thoroughly and regularly, as otherwise, your vision can suffer. You need to maintain the clarity and longevity of those glasses. You can do so using a microfiber cloth and lens cleaner that your optometrist has recommended to avoid scratching those lenses.
Eye strain
At first, you may go through some level of eye strain or even headaches as your eyes try to adjust to the new prescription. You need to take breaks as needed and gradually increase the amount of time you wear those glasses every day to give your eyes a chance to acclimate.
Follow-up appointments
You need to schedule follow-up appointments with your optometrist as recommended to make sure that your glasses are still providing optimal vision correction. Since your prescription can change over time, regular checkups are essential when it comes to maintaining good eye health.
Wearing glasses for the first time can certainly be a pleasant and comfortable experience, so there’s really no reason to be worried as long as you’ve been to a professional first to get your eyesight tested.
Feel free also to read our previous article about what you need to know before using contact lenses for the first time.
