Reasons why glasses can hurt the eyes?

Glasses change the way your eyes see the world. The process involves changes in the connection between the brain and your eyes and may cause discomfort during adaptation. New glasses
A new frame shape, size, or weight may take some type to adapt. New frames can change the pressure points on your face and ears, inciting headaches. A change in your lens type may also cause a dull eye ache behind or around your eyes as you adjust to the prescription strength, channels in the progressive lenses, and a new material coating.

What to do

New glasses have an adjustment period, so give yourself up to two weeks to adapt. You may want to wear your new glasses for shorter periods of time, gradually increasing the time as your eyes adjust. Talk to your eye care provider if your eye pain and discomfort don’t improve. Your prescription may need to be adjusted, or the lens type may need to be changed.
If you’ve ordered a new pair of glasses from Overnightglasses.com and have issues with your prescription or eye pain, customer service specialists will help you find a solution.

New prescription

When the level of your vision correction changes, your eyes and brain will need to adapt to the new prescription strength. A much stronger prescription than your previous prescription— or with more astigmatism- can lead to initial eye strain. Those new to progressive lenses may struggle to adapt to the different channels with a new pair. Education may be needed to show a patient how to use the lenses by moving your nose towards what you are looking at.

What to do

Again, adjusting to a new level of vision correction can take time. If your eyes have not adjusted to your new prescription over a period of a few weeks, talk to your healthcare provider about reviewing your prescription or changing your lens type.
If your frames fit correctly, new lenses with an adjusted prescription may be helpful. Overnight glasses can help if you need new lenses for your existing frames.

Old prescription

Your vision can change throughout your life as you grow through childhood and adolescence, with computer work, and with the onset of presbyopia, an age-related change. If you haven’t had your vision checked for quite some time, your eye pain may be because of eye strain.
When you don’t have the proper vision correction, the muscles in your eye may work harder to produce a focused image, or you may even squint. This overuse of your eyes can cause pain, fatigue, or discomfort.

What to do

If your prescription is outdated, schedule an appointment for a vision exam to get an updated prescription. When you receive your new prescription, you can replace the lenses in your existing frames or order a new pair of eyeglasses.
Overnight Glasses offer many choices for every type of glasses if you need a new pair of eyewear.

Eye strain

If you spend hours reading on digital devices or the computer screen, you may experience eye strain. Near vision activities that require using the muscles in your eye may strain your eyes. You might not even realize you are straining to see until you develop a headache or eye pain. Small amounts of uncorrected astigmatism or far-sightedness are often the reason for eye strain. A low prescription for computer work can significantly impact how your eyes feel.

What to do

If you’re experiencing headaches and eye strain after a recent change in your glasses or with an outdated prescription, your eye doctor can help you make the necessary adjustments to your prescription. If you’ve never had an eye exam, it may be time to schedule one. Your doctor often recommends specialized coatings that can help protect your eyes from strain and glare.
If you need a new pair of glasses made with your new prescription, Overnight Glasses offers quick and affordable options for new lenses and/or frames.
If your eye doctor cannot find a reason for your eye pain, you may need additional testing to rule out any more complex eye conditions or health problems that might be causing you pain, including a consultation with a neurologist.

Screen time

Technology is a beneficial tool used in many ways, but exposure to glare from digital screens can impact your vision and eyes. Even with a pair of glasses customized for your vision correction needs, too much screen time can lead to muscle strain and eye pain. Computer vision syndrome, or digital eye strain, is caused by many factors, including screen glare. Reducing your screen time may also improve your eye comfort.

What to do

If you need a new pair of glasses, talk to your provider about ordering your lenses with an anti-glare treatment to reduce glare and reflections. If you are happy with your current glasses, you may be able to order a new set of lenses with an anti-glare treatment. Blue light anti-reflective coatings are also available; however, studies are inconclusive as to their benefits.
Learn about blue light lenses and coatings from Overnight Glasses.

Driving long distances

Driving requires constant attention and focus. Eye strain is common when you constantly change focus from far to near objects. What to do
Ensuring your eyeglasses are updated with a current prescription before a trip is beneficial. Overnight Glasses offers a quick turnaround time if you need a new pair of glasses by a particular deadline. Polarized sunglasses are an alternative option for driving during the day. They can reduce glare off roads and improve your eye comfort.
It’s also important to rest your eyes periodically, taking breaks from driving.

Lighting

Certain wavelengths of light may cause headaches and migraines. Those with light irises are more prone to light sensitivity. Prescription sunglasses with polarization can protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, improve contrast, and reduce glare.

What to do

Though you can’t always control your environment, you can add special features to your lenses to improve your eye comfort. Specialized photochromic coatings can be added to your lenses to help your eyes transition from light to dark.

Conclusion

There are many reasons why you may be experiencing eye pain. A recent eye health or eyeglass prescription change should be considered first.
Schedule a vision exam with an eye doctor to evaluate your eyes and discuss recommendations related to your eye health and vision. If your eyes have changed, consider replacing your current glasses after other eye problems have been excluded.

Evolution of Prescription Glasses and Lenses

As early as 1200, Venetians used rock crystal, made into convex shapes, to improve near vision. In 1301, the superintendents of Venetian Arts allowed the craftsmen to make “Vitreos to oculis ad legendum“ which translates to glass lenses for reading. Soon after, the first eyeglasses were made with two round, biconvex lenses and assembled with a rim of metal or wrought leather riveted together at the handles. However, it wasn't until the end of the last century that glasses became an expression of an individual’s style and personality.

Latest Technological Innovations in Prescription Glasses

Prescription lenses have evolved past rock crystal. The latest technological innovations in prescription glasses include customization and personalization, novel lens materials and coatings, and smart glasses. In addition, 3D-printed lenses may potentially improve the lives of patients with low vision or color blindness.

Customization and Personalization

The progressive lenses of 2023 are more custom and personal than decades prior. Freeform lens technology has many advantages over conventional progressive lenses. Digital freeform lenses provide better optics for the wearer. Software programs are used to analyze the prescription, pantoscopic tilt, and frame fitting position to create a custom lens.

Freeform lenses are premium progressive lenses because they provide a wider field of view and less peripheral distortion. Patients do not have to move their head up and down or side to side as much as they would with a conventional lens. They are less likely to feel motion sickness or as if they are inside a fish bowl.

Today’s lens designs take into account the digital world we live in. Americans spend more time on their phones and computers each year, and more recent PAL (progressive addition lenses) types have a widened intermediate segment for device use.

Advanced Lens Materials

Trivex and high-index are two types of advanced lens materials for eyeglass lenses. A Trivex lens is a lighter, thinner lens but is as impact-resistance as a polycarbonate lens. The vision will be clearer through a Trivex lens when compared with a polycarbonate lens. Trivex is best for children's glasses, sports glasses, and safety glasses. Those with a prescription between -3.00 and +1.50 should have their lenses made from Trivex.

High-index lenses are the thinnest lenses available for those with higher prescriptions and thicker lenses. A high-index lens bends light, reduces distortion, and provides the highest optical clarity. High-index lenses are recommended for patients with a prescription equal to or greater than -4.00D or +2.50D. High-index lenses are available in three indexes: 1.60, 1.67, and 1.74. Keep in mind that the higher the prescription the bigger the difference in lens thickness when high-index materials are compared and optically, the lower index lenses such as 1.60 will have better performance with similar thickness as a 1.67 index lens.

Lens Coatings and Treatments

The following lens coatings and treatments can be applied to any lens material.

Anti-reflective coating

Anti-reflective (AR) and blue light lens coatings are designed for the visual demands of daily life, especially digital device use. Anti-reflective coatings offer the best visual experience by reducing glare both on the lens surface and from back-lit devices. Your eyes can also be viewed more naturally through a lens with an AR coating, improving your appearance. Additionally, the halo effect around car lights and the reflections off computer screens/TVs are also reduced with the addition of an anti-reflective coating.

Some studies show blue light coatings may be beneficial in reducing eye strain. Digital device users often suffer from digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome. Common symptoms include blurry vision, headaches, dry eye, and neck and back aches.

Superhydrophobic coating

A superhydrophobic coating applied to eyeglass lenses makes the surface water-repellant. If you are caught in the rain, the lens will repel the water droplets and reduce fogging. Those who live in a cold or rainy climate may want to consider this coating. Chefs or restaurant staff who enter freezers or work over a hot stove will also benefit from the application of a superhydrophobic coating.

Oleophobic coating

An oleophobic coating is applied to a lens surface to repel oils and grease. Fingerprints, for example. This coating is considered “anti-smudge” and is often found on smartphone and tablet screens, camera lenses, smartwatches, and car windshields. Prescription lenses with this coating are easier to clean and will stay clean longer.

Anti-static coating

An anti-static coating reduces debris like dust and dirt particles from sticking to your prescription glasses. Eyeglass lenses with an anti-static coating will also be easier to clean and remain clean longer. If you work outside or in a dusty environment, you may want to consider an anti-static lens coating.

UV protection coating

A UV protective coating is very important for eye health. An invisible dye is added to the lens surface to block the sun’s rays from your eyes. UV exposure from the sun is a risk factor for developing cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and eye and skin cancers. Lenses made of plastic will block most UV light, but adding an additional UV coating will increase the UV protection to 100 percent. Polycarbonate and high-index plastics have 100 percent UV protection inherent in the lens, so an extra UV coating is unnecessary. Photochromic lenses also block 100% of UV light without an additional coating.

Anti-scratch coating

An anti-scratch coating doesn’t prevent your glasses from getting scratched, but it does harden the lens surface for improved scratch resistance. All patients, especially children, benefit from an anti-scratch coating because accidents do happen! Unfortunately, it's easy to drop your glasses and get a scratch right in the middle of your line of sight. Most types of eyeglass lens materials, including high-index, polycarbonate, and Trivex, have an inherent anti-scratch coating, but if you order another lens material, you may need to add it. Scratch coatings are applied to both the front and back surface of the lens and help to extend the life of the lens.

Sun Lenses Advancements

Polarized lens

A polarized lens is a special type of sunglass lens with a filter to eliminate glare and allows light to pass through in only one direction. Polarized lenses enhance contrast, reduce glare, and make colors pop! Polarized lenses are available in several colors and are ideal for fishing and skiing.

Photochromatic lens

Light adaptive or photochromatic lenses, often branded as Transition^TM lenses, change from a clear lens to a tinted lens with sun exposure. Light adaptive lenses are available in several tint colors and can be polarized. Light adaptive lenses are convenient because you don't have to carry both clear lens glasses and sunglasses.

Technological Advancements in Lens Design

Computer lenses and office lenses are fairly new developments in lens technology. Both lens types are often recommended to patients as a second pair of glasses. Though both types have a little amount of distance viewing in the lens, the majority of the lens consists of the intermediate and near portion of the lens. Someone who sits at a desktop computer, or has multiple monitors, is an ideal candidate for one of these lenses. The difference between the two being the computer has around 5 feet of distance while the office lens has up to 10 feet of distance. The computer has a little more reading, and the office has a little more distance. Neither lens is meant for driving.

Anti-fatigue lenses have been developed in the last five years. The lenses are designed for digital device users who may need a little extra magnification for near work or to relax their eyes when using their device. Patients around the age of 40 who aren't ready to move to a progressive lens or those under 40 who feel eye strain may benefit. Anti-fatigue lenses can have a near add of +0.50 to +0.75. Your eye doctor will add this component to your glasses if testing shows it will be of benefit to you.

Smart Glasses and Augmented Reality

Many manufacturers are producing smart glasses. Some even work as augmented reality devices that allow the viewer to project a computer screen to the corner of the eye. Some smart glasses are able to answer calls, control your smart devices, play different media, record videos, and take photos, and they integrate with your social media. Google, Amazon, and Ray-Ban already have a version of smart glasses. Apple is the latest company to introduce its own version, which is expected to launch in 2026 or 2027. It is unknown at this time if a patient’s own glasses will be needed or if Apple’s lenses will allow for internal adjustment for the patient’s prescription.

Future Trends and Possibilities

A patent for producing 3d printing optical lenses was first issued in 2015. 3d printing was first used to produce prescription glasses but has evolved for augmented reality glasses. The software, VisionPlatform, first owned by Luxecel, printed lenses using layers of acrylic-based resin and tailoring each lens to different prescriptions.

Between the layers of resin, the printer can embed smart devices into the lens, using waveguides and LCD screens to provide the user with an AR experience. Meta, owned by Facebook, acquired the company in December 2022 to improve their augmented reality glasses.

In the future, it is possible for 3D-printed lenses to be manufactured specifically for patients with specific eye conditions. For example, if a patient with macular degeneration has lost parts of their central vision, the 3d lenses can be designed with the vision moved to the remaining parts of their central fields. Scientists have also developed 3D-printed lenses to benefit the color blind. The lenses are created from a translucent resin tinted by combining it with two wavelength-filtering dyes and were customized using three different dye concentrations.

Conclusion

Prescription lens technology continues to change and evolve at a rapid rate providing eyeglass wearers with more crisp and precise vision. Patients have more custom options for their visual demands, occupation, and hobbies than in decades past. From novel lens materials and coatings to 3D-printed lenses for the color blind, we have much to look forward to!