When Should I Wear My Eyeglasses?

This Eye Opener edition is dedicated to my Dad, Howard who turned 83 today.  My siblings and I are moving him to Cortez in 2 weeks to live with me!  I am very much looking forward to spending much more time with him!  Happy Birthday Dad!

So, you have a new pair of eyeglasses and you want to know when and how much you should wear them.  My usual answer to my patients is "wear them whenever you want to see better."  I will give you some guidelines here, but one thing I want you to know is that wearing your eyeglasses all the time will not make your vision worse over time.  Studies show that whether you wear your eyeglasses full-time, part-time or not at all will have no effect on whether your vision will improve or decline as time goes on.  Some people have a notion that by wearing their eyeglasses all the time will "weaken" their sight... this is just not true.  (for related information about this, please read one of my 2004 editions: “My Vision Was Better Before I Got My Eyeglasses” (12/13/04).)

Another common line of mine to patients is that "wearing eyeglasses are intended to improve clarity of vision, also to reduce eye strain, tired eyes and headaches."  As a note, I tell patients that some people want to see as clearly as possible and others don't care if they don't see so well... it's just a personal thing.  On that note, here are my recommendations about when you should wear your eyeglasses:

Full-Time
If your eyeglasses are required for driving;  if you uncorrected vision is 20/40 or worse
If you are significantly nearsighted, farsighted, and/or if have significant astigmatism
     Remember 20/400 uncorrected vision is considered legally blind!

Part-Time
If your eyeglasses are prescribed for "reading only" or "distance vision only"
If you are slightly or moderately nearsighted and your near vision is adequate for comfortable reading
If you are a contact lens wearer - please give your eyes breaks from your contact lens wearing
     (related information:  Are You Over-Wearing Your Contact Lenses? (10/11/04))
 

The Bottom Line:  Do you want to see better or not?  It's up to you... wear 'em when you want (or are required) to see better.  ~RQ