{"id":1309,"date":"2023-01-12T14:49:07","date_gmt":"2023-01-12T19:49:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.warbyparker.com\/learn\/?p=1309"},"modified":"2026-04-02T03:12:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T07:12:31","slug":"do-glasses-make-eyesight-worse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.warbyparker.com\/learn\/do-glasses-make-eyesight-worse","title":{"rendered":"Does Wearing Glasses Make Your Eyesight Worse?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wearing glasses doesn\u2019t make your eyesight worse<\/a>. We repeat: Glasses don\u2019t make your eyes worse. Glasses<\/a>, contacts<\/a>, and all corrective lenses will only make your eyesight better\u2014when you\u2019re wearing them as prescribed, of course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eyeglasses weakening eyesight is a common myth that\u2019s never been scientifically proven. In this article, we\u2019ll debunk this claim and explain why wearing glasses won\u2019t hurt your eyesight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does Wearing Glasses Weaken Your Eyes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wearing glasses doesn\u2019t weaken your eyes in any way. While some people believe wearing glasses can make your eyes reliant on the glasses and cause your eye muscles to atrophy, that myth can\u2019t be further from the truth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Glasses Don\u2019t Weaken Your Eyesight, Why Do People Need Stronger Vision Prescriptions Over Time?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One possible source of this myth might be that eyeglass prescriptions<\/a> often get stronger over time. But that\u2019s due to age, genetics, behavior, and possibly other factors\u2014not the glasses. The lenses in your eyes can change shape and lose their flexibility as the years go by, which prevents light from reaching the retina as easily as it could in your younger days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myopia<\/a>, or nearsightedness, tends to increase slightly with age. Presbyopia<\/a> is likewise age-related and often occurs in those 40 and older. (That\u2019s why you see so many adults wearing those distinguished reading glasses<\/a>.)  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, wearing your glasses is a surefire way to correct the vision issues that naturally arise from aging or other causes. It\u2019s not wearing your prescription eyewear that can cause unnecessary eye problems<\/a>. If your eyesight goes uncorrected, you may experience eye strain<\/a>, headaches, fatigue, and squinting. Always schedule an appointment with an optometrist<\/a> if these symptoms are occurring.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In more serious cases, especially with children, not wearing prescribed glasses for conditions like strabismus (crossed eyes) or amblyopia (lazy eye)<\/a> can make the condition worse\u2014or even permanent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Does It Seem Like Your Eyesight Is Getting Worse After Wearing Glasses?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your eyesight isn\u2019t actually getting worse after wearing the glasses\u2014it just seems like it is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you take off your prescription glasses, the world around you might seem blurrier than you remember pre-glasses. But nothing has changed, aside from your perspective. Your eyes and your brain are becoming accustomed to seeing the world a lot clearer, so the effects of uncorrected vision are more noticeable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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Need an eye exam?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t

Schedule an appointment with an expert optometrists today<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Is Wearing the Wrong Glasses Bad for Your Eyes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, wearing the wrong glasses for your vision needs can be bad for your eyes. However, they will not permanently make your eyesight worse\u2014they\u2019ll impair your vision while you\u2019re wearing them and potentially cause some of the same problems mentioned above, such as eye strain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re experiencing bothersome symptoms after giving yourself about two weeks to adjust to your new glasses<\/a>, then your prescription might be a little too strong or too weak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check in with your optometrist right away so you can get your prescription corrected. And, of course, only wear corrective lenses as prescribed by your eye doctor. Don\u2019t try to self-prescribe based on vision issues! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does Wearing Glasses Improve Eyesight?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wearing glasses does improve your eyesight<\/a>, as prescription eyeglasses are intended to do\u2014as long as you\u2019re wearing the right ones. While your frames are on your face, you should be able to see everything clearly and comfortably. (If not, speak with your eye doctor as soon as possible.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to point out that glasses don\u2019t reshape your eyes or permanently fix your vision. Only eye surgery can do that. In most cases, eyesight stays about the same or gets a bit worse over time. To be clear, that isn\u2019t because of glasses\u2014it\u2019s just a consequence of getting older. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, there are cases where glasses or corrective lenses can help eyesight get better over time, especially with children. The recent arrival of contact lenses that help to slow the progression of myopia<\/a> can decrease the amount of change that might otherwise occur. There are also eyeglass lenses being tested for the same purpose. If a child requires vision therapy or glasses to help their eyes mature or correct an eye condition<\/a>, such as amblyopia, then glasses will indeed help to improve their eyesight over time. In many cases, once the eye condition is corrected, the child will no longer need glasses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get Your Eyes Checked So Glasses Can Help Your Vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re due for a new eyeglasses prescription<\/a> or heading to the eye doctor for the first time, comprehensive eye exams<\/a> are a key step to achieving clearer vision. Your optometrist can determine your prescription and point you in the direction of some awesome new frames, whether they\u2019re in-store or online. Either way, the right pair of glasses will only help\u2014never hurt\u2014your eyesight.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wearing glasses doesn\u2019t make your eyesight worse. We repeat: Glasses don\u2019t make your eyes worse. Glasses, contacts, and all corrective lenses will only make your eyesight better\u2014when you\u2019re wearing them as prescribed, of course.  Eyeglasses weakening eyesight is a common myth that\u2019s never been scientifically proven. In this article, we\u2019ll debunk this claim and explain […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":1310,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eyewear","category-eye-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDoes Wearing Glasses Make Your Eyesight Worse? | Warby Parker<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do glasses weaken your eyes or affect your vision? 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