Getting a new pair of glasses is exciting. Often you have searched for the perfect fit and found the lenses and add-ons that best suit your lifestyle. As soon as you get them, you rush to put them on and use them - they look and feel great on your face, but you may notice a few things that you didn’t expect like dizziness, eyestrain, an awareness of the coatings and how differently you see. These are all common side effects and symptoms of getting a new pair of glasses.
Let’s go over a few things that may be causing these symptoms and then we’ll discuss some tips to help adjust to your new glasses. Before we begin, it is important to highlight the importance of seeing an eye care professional before purchasing glasses. The exam will make sure that you understand if you need a glasses prescription and ensure that your ocular health is good. Knowing these two things will set the stage for success with your new pair of glasses!
Now that that disclaimer is out of the way, let’s talk the why’s.
When getting new glasses, the size and shape of the frame, as well as the lens material, all play a role in the adjustment period. For those that wear prescription glasses, even with the same lens power your vision may feel different with different frames due to this.
GUNNAR lenses are made of polycarbonate lenses that are safe and durable, are lightweight and thin and provide UV protection and more scratch resistance than plastic lenses. If you’ve never worn polycarbonate before, there may be a slight adjustment period to the material.
Picking the right frame style for your face size and shape is also important to limit extra distortions within the lenses.
GUNNAR Technology
What sets GUNNAR lenses apart from the competition is the patented lens design that gives you a little extra focus at near, blocks the potentially harmful effects of blue-light and glare as well as the curvature of the lens to reduce dry eye.
The GUNNAR Focus
The aim of the GUNNAR Focus is to help your eye not have to work as hard at keeping things clear while on a device. This small amount of focusing power is meant to help you; however, sometimes the muscle that controls this focus has a hard time relaxing. The additional plus power in the lens can initially feel like too much magnification, but rest assured if you are in the right prescription, this small focusing power will ultimately make viewing your device more comfortable.
The GUNNAR Coating (AR/Blue Light Blocking)
There are multiple levels of coatings within the GUNNAR family. Figuring out what lens option is right for you is an important step because the standard amber does have a distinct yellow tint to it, which may take some getting used to. For some, especially those that work in digital design/photography, feel that the color distortion is too distracting. Luckily, GUNNAR offers multiple levels of coatings to best fit your needs.
Lens Curvature
This is the least likely piece of the lens design that may be causing symptoms, but there are some patients are sensitive to the curvature of the lens.
What Can You Do To Adjust To Your New Glasses
1.Build Up Your Wear Time
This is by the far best piece of advice when getting a new pair of glasses. The visual system needs time to adjust to the technology, frame, and lenses. I recommend the following wear times to build up your tolerance:
Day 1: At least 15 minutes, but no more than 2 hours
Day 2-7: Build up to 30 minutes – 1 hour from the previous day, no more than 8 hours
Day 7+: Should be able to wear the lenses comfortable full day or whenever you are on a device
A few things to note: if you are sensitive (prone to migraines/dizziness) take this slower by adding wear time by 15 minute increments. Try not to do quick ‘on and off’ comparisons.
2. Consider Changing Frames & Lens
If you realize that you purchased the wrong style lens for your face/prescription, getting in the right frame can make all the difference. If you’ve given yourself ample time to adjust and still feel ‘off’ consider a frame switch.
Additionally, if you originally picked the Amber lens with the 65% blue light blocking technology, consider going to the clear lens that has 35% protection. Once you adjust to this lens, you can try to increase the blue light blocking technology.
3. Get Your Prescription Checked
Lastly, for those that have prescriptions to see distance/near or both, make sure you are in the most updated prescription possible. If you’ve done all the above and you still can’t adjust, a visit to the eye doctor may be necessary to recheck the prescription. The real world is very different from a dark room looking at a white screen, so adjustments to glasses prescription, although uncommon, may be necessary.
At the end of the day, taking it slow and adjusting to your new glasses is normal. Before you know it you’ll be able to wear your new GUNNAR glasses comfortably.