A Guide To Getting Your First Prescription Glasses

There will likely come a time when the reading glasses are just not cutting it any longer. Reading books still brings headaches, and the text on the computer screen is blurry. This means that it’s time to get a prescription. 

Wearing glasses may seem like a hassle, but things are much better with them when you have the right prescription. They can even help your style by getting cool frames that suit your personality like round eyeglasses or even different colors. In other words, getting a glasses prescription is not so bad.  

It goes much easier when you know what to expect. In this article, we will go over the process so that there are no surprises. 

Get a vision test

The first thing you need to do is see an optometrist to schedule an eye exam. This is when they will determine what the prescription strength of the glasses should be. Make sure that you are prepared to answer a few questions before the exam starts.

The most obvious question will be about the specific problems that you are having. They will want to know when your vision is at its worst and what the consequences are, such as a headache. Beyond that, the doctor will also want to know about any history of eye disease in your family. Even diabetes and heart disease will be relevant as they ensure that vision problems are not related to other health issues. 

Once the interview is over and the doctor is satisfied with the answers, the exam will begin. Here are the various phases of the exam:

• Visual acuity test - This is the test that just about everybody is familiar with. In it, you will stand in front of a chart set a few feet away. On it are letters in rows, with the size of the letters getting progressively smaller the further down the chart they go. You’ll be asked to identify the letters to deduce at what point the vision starts getting worse. 
• Visual field test - Your peripheral vision is essential, so this test will judge how well you see on either side of you. Objects will appear and disappear, and you will need to alert the doctor when it happens. There is also a test in which you need to press a button when you see a flash of light. 
• Fundus photography - This is a process in which a photograph is made of the back of the eye. The doctor needs to check the retina, the optic disk, and the layer of blood vessels. 
• Glaucoma screening - Glaucoma is a severe eye disease in which the optic nerve to the brain is damaged. Vision is impacted even if the eyes are healthy simply because the brain isn’t getting the right signals through the nerve. Often surgery is necessary. 

The whole exam takes about an hour to complete. Once it is complete, the doctor will settle on your prescription strength, and you can fill an order to have lenses made for you.

If any problems were found, like glaucoma or something else, then there will need to be a follow-up exam to get to the bottom of it. 

How to get used to the glasses

Going from not wearing glasses at all to wearing them every day takes some getting used to. There are a few ways to make it easier to get used to so they aren’t causing discomfort for too long. 

The most important thing to do is to wear glasses every day. Even when they feel uncomfortable, it is always advised to wear them to get used to them. Otherwise, every time you wear them, they will be painful. It’s like buying a new pair of shoes. They need to break in, and you have to wear them long enough for it to happen. One way to ensure a smoother transition to wearing glasses is to invest in high-quality eyeglasses. Opting for well-crafted frames and lenses can significantly enhance comfort and overall visual experience. For instance, considering luxury glasses like Hackett luxury glasses by CoolFrames can provide both style and functionality.

Keeping the lenses clean and scratch-free will also help to get used to them. When they are dirty, you have to strain to see things clearly, making vision worse and headaches more frequent. 

How often to replace prescriptions?

Checkups should be done regularly to make sure the prescription you have now is still the correct strength. Every two years or so should be the time between checkups if nothing is bothering you.

However, if you notice your vision getting worse, this is a sign that the prescription is no longer the right strength and needs to be replaced. Schedule an exam to see what the new power should be. 

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