Wrong glasses: What they can cause – Doctor-medic Bányai explains
Wearing glasses with the wrong prescription not only causes blurred vision but can also lead to a variety of problems that affect your daily life and well-being. Often, the solution is a new pair of glasses.
However, you could also consider a permanent correction with a laser eye treatment. In this post, we explain the problems that can result from incorrect glasses.
Incorrect eyeglass prescription – explained by Doctor-medic Bányai
An incorrect eyeglass prescription can lead to a range of vision problems, including blurred vision, headaches, eye discomfort, and even dizziness. If the diopter values are not precisely matched to an individual’s vision, the eyes must work harder to see clearly, which can lead to fatigue and discomfort. An overcorrection can cause constant eye strain, while an undercorrection will leave vision blurred. To avoid discomfort, it is important to have your glasses adjusted regularly and to undergo a precise eye examination.
Symptoms of wearing the wrong glasses
If you wear glasses that do not (or no longer) match your prescription, it can significantly affect your everyday life—often without you immediately realizing it. Typical symptoms of incorrect glasses include not only blurred vision but also physical discomfort that can worsen over the course of the day. The signs are especially noticeable during prolonged work at a screen or while reading:
- blurred or distorted vision
- Headaches, especially in the forehead or temple area
- tired, burning, or strained eyes
- Dizziness or balance disorders
- Problems with estimating distances or sizes
- Flickering in the eyes or the sensation of “not seeing properly”
These symptoms can occur with both inadequate and excessive correction — as well as with an incorrectly adjusted interpupillary distance (PD) or progressive lenses that aren’t optimally fitted. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should have their glasses checked promptly. An ophthalmologist’s examination or a professional eye test at an optician will quickly clarify the situation and, in many cases, noticeably improve comfort.
In the remainder of this article, we will take a closer look at the most important symptoms and complaints.
Physical symptoms
Incorrect eyeglass prescriptions can cause physical symptoms that disrupt your day:
- Headaches often occur because the body must constantly strain to focus the eyes.
- The additional strain can cause pain or eye fatigue.
- Dizziness and balance problems can occur, especially if there is a significant difference in visual acuity.
Dizziness from wearing the wrong glasses?
Yes, dizziness can be caused by improperly fitted glasses — and that’s not uncommon. Especially with new glasses or a change in prescription (e.g., new lenses or switching to progressive lenses), the brain often needs some time to adjust. However, if the glasses are not fitted correctly, this adjustment period can last longer or cause persistent discomfort.
Typical causes of dizziness related to wearing incorrect glasses include:
- incorrect diopter strength – both over- and under-correction can impair balance
- incorrectly set pupillary distance (PD value) – particularly important for progressive or computer glasses
- mismatched progressive lens zones – when the transitions between near and distance vision are unnatural or too abrupt
- distorted vision – with pronounced corneal curvature (astigmatism) or with a strong correction in one eye
If you regularly experience dizziness, nausea, or disorientation while wearing your glasses, it’s worth seeing an optician or ophthalmologist. Often a small adjustment is enough — and your vision will feel completely natural again.
Can wearing the wrong glasses cause ocular migraines?
Eye migraine is a form of migraine that causes temporary visual disturbances such as flickering lines or flashes of light, often without a headache. Incorrect glasses cannot directly cause eye migraines, but they can place unnecessary strain on the eyes, which, when combined with other factors such as stress or lack of sleep, can trigger a migraine aura. Anyone who regularly experiences eye migraines should therefore have their vision checked to rule out possible triggers such as incorrect dioptres or ill-fitting glasses.
Impact on lifestyle
An incorrect eyeglass prescription can interfere with your daily activities:
- Reduced productivity at work or at school due to poor vision.
- Increased risk on the road for you and others.
- Leisure activities can be less enjoyable.
Long-term vision problems
Long-term use of an incorrect eyeglass prescription can lead to a deterioration of vision:
- The eye adapts to an incorrect eyeglass prescription and can worsen existing refractive errors.
- The later correction of a refractive error with the correct prescription may require a longer adaptation period.
Why consider laser eye surgery?
Laser eye surgery offers a permanent solution for refractive errors. After laser eye surgery, such as in Karlsruhe or Stuttgart, glasses or contact lenses are usually no longer necessary.
- Permanent correction: Laser eye treatment can permanently correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and corneal astigmatism. In most cases, the treatment results in optimal visual acuity.
- Quick recovery: Most people return to their normal activities within a day or two, experiencing minimal discomfort.
- Improved quality of life: Patients enjoy their daily lives after treatment and often regret not having gotten rid of their glasses or contact lenses sooner.
Take the next step
Wondering whether you are suitable for laser eye treatment?
Begin with our suitability test. You’ll receive an initial assessment of whether laser treatment might be suitable for you. Answer a few simple questions (about 2 minutes) about your vision and any visual aids you’ve used.
Can my eyes be treated with laser eye surgery?
Use the laser eye eligibility test to find out whether you are a suitable candidate for laser eye treatment.
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