If you're a seasoned glasses wearer, you're probably used to having your prescription altered. However, if you've just learned that you need to start wearing glasses, and have seen the eye-wateringly high bill for a new pair of frames and lenses, then you may be wondering how often you'll need to invest in a new pair.
It's a total myth that glasses weaken your vision, resulting in continually changing prescriptions. The truth is that our vision alters throughout our lives regardless of whether we have help from glasses. However, investing in a pair when you need them will support your eyes and stop your sight from declining as quickly as if you tried to get by without them.
If they can help, why shouldn't you wear them? Not to mention that there are some pretty snazzy frames out there, meaning you've got one more thing to accessorize; that's never a bad thing.
How long do glasses prescriptions last?
Numerous factors will affect how often your glasses prescription needs to be updated, but generally, they will be altered every one to three years.
If you've worn glasses since childhood, there may be a window in your twenties when the rate your prescription changes slows down.
That's because our eyes have to grow just as our bodies do. At birth, our eyes are only 80% of the size they will be, and so your prescription will alter with the growth of your eyes.
Our eyes tend to stop growing between 18 and 21, which is when you might experience a slowing down in glasses prescription changes.
At what age does your eye prescription stop changing?
We've talked about your prescription slowing down in your twenties, but that doesn't mean they will stop altogether. As we get older, our eyesight naturally diminishes, and our prescriptions have to change to counterbalance these detrimental changes.
Whether through the natural process of aging, or an illness that affects your eyes (which we discuss in more detail a little further down the page), you’ll find that your prescriptions need to change again and again over the years.
Why do your eyes get worse with age?
When we're looking at something far away or close up, the lenses in our eyes will relax or contract to help us see clearly. As we naturally lose elasticity over the years, our lenses struggle to react to what we're seeing; they can't contract or relax as quickly as they did in their younger years.
Additionally, some eye-related illnesses and diseases will impact our vision, and the frequency in which our glasses prescription needs to be updated. These include:
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Presbyopia
- Myopia
And more. Although, your optician probably won't be looking for these until you hit your forties when these illnesses become more common.
Does that mean you need to buy new glasses every year or so?
If you're considering investing in a pair of smart glasses, you might not be thrilled at the idea of your glasses prescription changing. Fear not, though; you can keep your stunning frames and simply swap out the lenses.
When you shop with Lucyd, you can select the lenses you love and specify your prescription. You can then either take your glasses to your optician to replace them or send your frame to us, and we'll swap it over for you. While it's incredibly easy to replace Lucyd lenses yourself, we don't recommend swapping prescription lenses yourself.
