Can New Glasses Cause Headaches and Dizziness?

Why Do New Glasses Cause Headaches and Dizziness?

So, can new glasses give you a headache or make you feel dizzy? The short answer is yes. There may be a few reasons why you’re experiencing these unpleasant feelings. Let’s examine some potential reasons why new glasses and headaches could be linked.

1. New Prescription

If you’ve just had your prescription updated and your lenses changed in your glasses, it may take a bit of time to get used to them - especially if your prescription is stronger. It can take a few days to adjust to your new prescription, and you may experience headaches and dizziness as a result of this.

2. Incorrect Prescription

Another reason why you may feel dizzy or get a headache from new glasses is that your prescription is incorrect. During an eye test, the exam can be relatively subjective and could leave room for human error, therefore, sometimes causing a prescription to be slightly off. In cases like this, wearing your new glasses with an incorrect prescription could cause eye strain, headaches or dizziness.

3. Ill-Fitting Glasses

If you get a new pair of frames, making sure they fit comfortably is essential for long-term wear. If your glasses are too tight across your nose or cause pressure behind your ears, they may cause headaches or dizziness. If they’re too loose, they could also cause your eyes to strain.

One way to avoid worrying about visual aids like glasses is to get laser eye surgery. Take a look at our blog on laser eye surgery suitability and consider getting your vision assessed by betterview in a free, 30-minute consultation.

4. Using Glasses For What They’re Not Intended For

If you’re using a pair of glasses for the wrong reason, you may start suffering from headaches or dizziness. How exactly does this happen? Well, if you’re using a pair of reading glasses to watch TV or drive, then your eyes will begin to strain. Vice versa if you use glasses for long-distance vision up close when reading or writing.

5. Digital Eye Strain

Sometimes the muscles in your eyes can become strained, leading to headaches or dizziness spells. Digital eye strain can be caused by focusing on a screen for too long - especially if you’re unintentionally squinting, or sitting too far or too close to the screen for long periods of time. It’s not only screens that could cause eye strain, it can also happen when reading or watching TV.

6. Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a vision problem where the curvature of the eye causes blurred vision (up close and in distant vision). Besides blurred vision, astigmatism can also cause the eyes to strain, resulting in headaches or dizziness. If you’ve just started wearing glasses for astigmatism, this can also cause dizziness - often known as the ‘boat effect’ - as your eyes try to adjust.

If you suspect that you have astigmatism, schedule an eye test with a professional ophthalmologist who will determine if you need any help improving your vision.

Additional Symptoms When Wearing New Glasses

Now that we’ve established the link between new glasses, headaches and dizziness, it’s important to note that sometimes other symptoms are associated with wearing new glasses and adjusting to a new prescription. Some symptoms include:

• Difficulty focusing
• Distorted (blurry) vision
• Eye strain
• Nausea
• Neck pain

If you experience any of the following symptoms, we recommend talking to your ophthalmologist to assess how they can help you.

How Long Does it Take to Get Used to New Glasses?

It should take a few days to get used to your new glasses, but sometimes it can take a few weeks for your eyes to fully adjust to the new prescription. This is because it takes some time for your eyes and brain to get used to processing images through a new lens.

If after a few days, you find that you’re struggling to adjust to your new glasses, notify your ophthalmologist. They may need to test your eyes again or make sure your frames fit correctly.

Tips On How to Get Used to New Glasses

To help you avoid getting dizzy or a headache from new glasses, try these tips:

• Try to avoid long-distance driving or reading in the first few days of wearing your new glasses to avoid straining your eyes.
• Wear your glasses as much as possible to help your eye muscles adjust quickly.
• If you experience itchy, red, or sore eyes, take off your glasses and then wear them again when these symptoms have subsided.
• Adjust the nose pads and arms of your new frames if your glasses feel too tight or too loose.
• Keep your glasses clean (especially your lenses) to minimise distorted vision.

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If you’re getting tired of using visual aids like glasses or contact lenses, laser eye surgery is an alternative option. In just four simple steps, you can achieve 20/20 vision with the help of our experts. Book a free, 30-minute appointment at our local shop and start your journey to sharper vision.