How long does it take to adjust to new glasses?

In many cases, it takes only a few days to adjust to a new pair of prescription eyeglasses. As you are adjusting to your new glasses, it’s possible you might:

• Experience mild dizziness
• Notice some blurry vision
• Possibly feel some eye strain

All of this is usually normal. These symptoms are common with new glasses and typically last only a few days.

Whether you received glasses for the first time or you got a stronger prescription, a new lens type or lens coatings, you may go through a brief time of adjustment before you can wear your new glasses in comfort.

During this time, you may experience issues with:

• Distortion – Objects appear warped, bent, wavy or out of focus.
• Depth perception – Trouble determining how near or far objects are.
• Fishbowl effect – The feeling that what you’re seeing is bent along the edges, as though you’re seeing the world through a fishbowl.
• Eye strain – Your eyes may feel tired as they work to adjust to your new glasses.
• Headaches and nausea – Any of the above symptoms can lead to headaches, nausea and dizziness.

In many cases, the more you wear your glasses, the faster you’ll get used to them.

Many issues related to adjusting to new glasses resolve on their own after a few days, but for some people, the adjustment period can take up to two weeks.

However, if you experience eye strain, distorted vision and especially headaches for more than two or three days, contact your eye doctor or optician. They may want to have you come in to take another look at your eyes, confirm that your glasses were made correctly or even recheck that your eyeglass prescription is appropriate for you. 

The optimal way to help your eyes adjust to your new glasses is to wear them. Put your new glasses on as soon as you wake up, and wear them as much as you can each day.

Don’t go back and forth with your old glasses, even if your old pair is more comfortable. Hide your old glasses if you have to! The switching might make it harder for you to adjust to your new specs, and that can make the process take longer.

If you experience dizziness or nausea when wearing your new glasses, it’s likely that you’re also dealing with depth perception issues. In a way, you’re experiencing motion sickness.

You tend to feel grounded and stable because you have a natural understanding of your body and how it relates to the space around it. During the time it takes for you to adjust to your new glasses, your depth perception may falter, which can be disorienting and make you feel dizzy.

While you adapt to your new prescription, your eyes and brain have to work harder to see clearly through your new lenses. The more you strain to see, the more likely you are to get a headache.

It’s not unusual to have a headache the first day you wear your new prescription glasses, but if you’re still dealing with headaches after two or three days, call your eye doctor.

Why might the same prescription lenses in a new pair of frames cause adjustment issues? This can happen for a few reasons:

• Different lens type – If you purchased a different type of lens, the way you see through your lenses can change. For instance, if you switched from single vision or bifocal to progressive lenses, or opted for a thinner lens design or material, your eyes may need some time to adjust to the change, even if you have the same prescription.
• New frame style – If you purchased a different frame shape or style, that can impact the shape, size and curvature of your lenses. For example, if you had small rectangular frames before but got new glasses with oversized round frames, the curve of your lenses will be altered and may require a new adjustment period, even if your prescription hasn’t changed.

Whether your glasses are a new prescription or just have new frames, new lenses or new lens coatings, your eyes and brain will likely adjust soon to your new glasses. In a few days, you will possibly see clearly, and your glasses may feel more comfortable.

READ NEXT: Choose the ideal lenses for your glasses