Categories: Eye Care

Why Are Your New Eyeglasses Making You Feel Uncomfortable?

After getting new eyeglasses, it is quite common for some people to experience discomfort. Your brand new glasses might give you nose marks and pain. Some may even feel eye strain while others get pain at the back of their ears. All of these problems may be occurring because your eyeglasses do not fit you correctly. If your eyewear doesn’t quite feel right for you, it’s always best to contact your eye specialist

Keep reading to find out why your new eyeglasses might be uncomfortable. 

Possible Reasons New Eyeglasses Might Feel Uncomfortable

Your Eyes Are Still Adjusting 

Your eyes have six muscles that all need to keep up with your new eyeglass prescription. While adjusting to your new glasses, these muscles need to work harder than they used to. As a result, you may get muscle strain within your eyes and headaches. Those who are wearing glasses for the first time are more likely to experience this side effect. It can also happen if there is a dramatic change in your prescription. 

Are you wearing bifocals, trifocals, or progressives for the first time? It may be what’s making your eyeglasses uncomfortable to wear. These kinds of glasses are used to correct at least one lens power for numerous issues, such as farsightedness and nearsightedness. You’ll need to look through the glasses at the right spot to achieve the vision correction you need. The upper part of the lenses is for long-distance vision and driving. The lower part of the lenses is for close-up work and reading. 

You May Not Have the Right Nose Pads for Your Glasses

Have you noticed that once you remove your eyeglasses, there are marks left on your face or nose? You can avoid these marks from forming by removing your glasses a few times throughout the day. Doing so lets your skin breathe. One thing that would help remove the marks is to massage them. Another solution to this problem is to find nose pads for your glasses. 

Your Glasses Don’t Fit Correctly

If your glasses fit you right, they should sit on your nose bridge without pinching it. Your eyeglass frame should not put pressure on your face even when you are bending down, nodding, or shaking your head. It’s likely that your glasses don’t fit you if they move around as you do. Schedule an appointment with your eye clinic if you are feeling constant pain while wearing your glasses. 

Plastic frames are designed to sit directly on your nose while metal frames have nose pads for support and equal weight distribution. Nose pads must be set to the right bridge size for them to fit properly and they should also be of the correct material. You may experience pain if the nose pads are not placed flush into your face. Replacing the nose pad with a different material or adjusting the fit of your glasses may eliminate your discomfort. 

The weight of your eyeglass frame may cause pain in your nose bridge. It means that you may still experience discomfort even if your glasses are the right fit. When you are getting a new pair, you can ask your eye doctor about lightweight frame and lens options. 

You Need a More Suitable Eyeglass Frame

Your glasses may be too small for your head if you are feeling pain behind your ears while wearing them. It can also be because your eyeglasses were not adjusted properly. Pain behind the ears while wearing glasses can often lead to headaches because of poor circulation. 

Try to have your eyeglasses by your optician to see if it helps. If it doesn’t, then you may need to get a pair that’s more suited for you. Keep in mind that not all kinds of frames are ideal for everyone. Fortunately, many frame brands and designers offer frames in various sizes and styles to fit everyone’s needs. A reliable eye care provider will help you choose the right frame for you to avoid this issue. 

Moreover, if you are wearing headphones with your glasses on, you may also experience discomfort and even pain. You may want to consider glasses with thin frames or looser headphones that may let more outside noise but are more comfortable. The thickness of your ear pads also matters and it’s better to go for headphones with thicker ones. 

You Need a More Appropriate Pair of Glasses for Your Activity

Spending hours in front of digital screens, such as computers, smartphones, and televisions can result in eye strain. You may want to consider getting computer glasses if your job requires you to sit in front of a computer all day. This eyewear can help prevent eye strain and also block blue light from screens. 

Computer glasses come with lenses that are made to minimize glare and increase contrast. It features an anti-reflective coating that reduces glare from lights and digital screens. These glasses also have a tint to help improve contrast. They are usually available in single vision, occupational progressive lenses, and occupational bifocal and trifocal lenses. 

While not everyone requires computer glasses, they can benefit people of all ages. You can ask your eye doctor about them if you tend to experience eye strain when using a computer. In fact, it is a good idea to tell your eye doctor about any activities that may be causing you eye discomfort. This way, they can recommend which eyewear is more suitable for your needs. 

What Should You Do If Your Glasses Do Not Fit You Correctly?

See Your Eye Doctor

If you recently got new glasses and the pair does not feel right for you, it’s always recommended to have them checked by your eye doctor. Eye care professionals will know if there is a problem with how the glasses fit or if the lenses have issues. They may also check your eyes again to see if you develop any vision issues since your last eyeglass or contact eye exam

Get a Better Pair for You

Providers usually offer replacement or refunds for eyeglasses with material defects. Some retailers have a 30-day return or refund policy if you do not like how your glasses fit. Eye doctors may have similar policies if you want to get a replacement or refund due to an incorrect eyeglass prescription. However, you may not get a refund or replacement if you are the one who damaged the glasses.  

Have Your Glasses Adjusted

You can make small adjustments to improve comfort while wearing your glasses. Glasses with wireframes have nose pads. If your glasses don’t fit your nose properly, you can push the pads inward to prevent the frame from slipping. Push the pads outward if your glasses press into your nose or sit too high. For plastic frames, it may help to bend the temple arms in or out to adjust how the glasses lay on your nose. 

Do your glasses feel too tight or loose on your temples? Try bending the temple arms slightly upward to loosen the fit or downward to tighten your glasses. You can run the frame under warm water to make them easier to bend. 

Sometimes, the issue is that one lens is higher than the other. If this is the case, bend the opposite arm down, either at the hinge or where it crosses over your ear. However, it may not be easy to adjust certain frame materials, such as memory plastic, titanium, and aluminum alloy. You may be able to do minor adjustments to your glasses but it is still ideal to have your eye doctor check your vision and your eyewear first.  

Dr. Mary Ann Zastrow

Recent Posts

What You Need to Know About Visual Field Tests

A visual field test is usually a part of a routine eye examination. Despite the term's…

3 days ago

6 Things That Can Make Contact Lenses Hard to Fit

Contact lenses are a convenient and effective alternative to eyeglasses. They rest directly on the…

1 month ago

How Does Smoking Affect Your Eye Health?

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your overall health.…

1 month ago

Contact Lens Intolerance: Essential Things You Need to Know

Contact lenses are well-loved for their convenience. They can correct refractive errors, such as nearsightedness,…

2 months ago

Why Are My Eyes So Dry?

Dry eyes affect millions of people worldwide. It can cause discomfort, irritation and sometimes vision…

2 months ago

Contact Lenses: Reasons They Might Not Suit You

Individuals who don't wish to wear prescription glasses prefer contact lenses. This eyewear is ideal…

3 months ago