“Does not wearing glasses all the time increase eye power?”
I am 24 years old and i have recently been diagnosed with a minor decrease power in both my eyes. The doctor has advised glasses, however i am not yet comfortable wearing them all the time. Does not wearing glasses always lead to an increase in the eye power?
9 Answers
Glasses do not weaken your eyes and not wearing glasses does not strengthen them.
Wearing glasses does not increase eye power. Corrected vision gives best visual function and reduces accommodative stress on your eyes.
That is a very good question, the answer to which requires the knowledge of whether without glasses, you have nearsightedness (able to see clearly at near but not see distant objects well) or farsightedness, able to see distance better, but not well for near. Then, there is astigmatism which means things are distorted at both distances and reading.
After many years of practice, I have noticed that patients who have a small degree of any of these disorders will remain stable to a point, but the need for glasses increases the greater is the prescription power.
My common refrain to patients is “If you see well enough, as tested by the eye chart, and your activities, and are comfortable without glasses, then go without them." It will not hurt you to go without glasses and wearing them might make you dependent upon them. Going without may be perfectly acceptable unless it prevents you from doing things you want or need to do. Remember though, just because you don’t want to wear glasses is not a good reason to not wear them. If you can see 20/25 or 20/30 without glasses, it might be acceptable to go without. For driving though, especially at night, you may be better to wear glasses as vision often drops when night falls. This is most true if you are driving. While doing this activity, you will want to have the best possible vision.
Roger Ohanesian MD
After many years of practice, I have noticed that patients who have a small degree of any of these disorders will remain stable to a point, but the need for glasses increases the greater is the prescription power.
My common refrain to patients is “If you see well enough, as tested by the eye chart, and your activities, and are comfortable without glasses, then go without them." It will not hurt you to go without glasses and wearing them might make you dependent upon them. Going without may be perfectly acceptable unless it prevents you from doing things you want or need to do. Remember though, just because you don’t want to wear glasses is not a good reason to not wear them. If you can see 20/25 or 20/30 without glasses, it might be acceptable to go without. For driving though, especially at night, you may be better to wear glasses as vision often drops when night falls. This is most true if you are driving. While doing this activity, you will want to have the best possible vision.
Roger Ohanesian MD
No. If you can see without glasses you do not need to wear them. Not wearing glasses will not make your eyes worse. However, you may not see 20/20 without glasses.
It is a common misconception that wearing eyeglasses for clarity, will cause some change in the eyes leading to worse corrective need in the future. There is a natural progression of corrective need generally through the 20s in age with stability in the 30s. This will happen whether or not the eyeglasses are worn. Wear them if they help with clarity but they will have no effect on future needs.
No. It will only affect the clarity of your vision.
The answer to your question depends on what your prescription is and how accurate that prescription is.
If the prescription is correct then it is unlikely to cause an increase in your eye power.
If you are near-sighted (myopia) and your prescription is too strong, it is possible for it to contribute to an increase in the eye power if your eye is still developing. This development usually stops around the age of 25.
If you are far-sighted (hyperopia) however, then it probably won't make too much difference. If the prescription is too strong, your eyes won't have to work as hard and they will get used to the glasses as a 'crutch' and you might find that you are more dependent on the glasses than you were before. But that doesn't necessarily mean that your eye power has changed.
If the prescription is correct then it is unlikely to cause an increase in your eye power.
If you are near-sighted (myopia) and your prescription is too strong, it is possible for it to contribute to an increase in the eye power if your eye is still developing. This development usually stops around the age of 25.
If you are far-sighted (hyperopia) however, then it probably won't make too much difference. If the prescription is too strong, your eyes won't have to work as hard and they will get used to the glasses as a 'crutch' and you might find that you are more dependent on the glasses than you were before. But that doesn't necessarily mean that your eye power has changed.
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