4 Ways to Know if Your Eye Prescription is too Strong (2024)

Posted in Eye Health | April 6, 2018

An eye prescription is made by a subjective test, where the patient is required to answer a series of yes or no questions. Many tests are performed to check the health of the eyes, but the power of the glasses or lenses prescribed depends upon the answers the optometrist receives from the patient. The process of getting an eye prescription can quickly become a guessing game leading to a wrong prescription. There are a number of reasons why an eye prescription can go wrong.

1) Blurred Vision

The blurred vision test is a simple and easy test to know if your eye prescription is incorrect. Put on your glasses or lenses and cover one eye. Stare straight ahead with the other eye. Is your vision hazy or blurred? Repeat with the other eye. A cloudy or blurred vision in one eye, while the other is closed is a sure sign that the power of your glasses or lenses is incorrect.

2) Headaches

Another significant indicator of the wrong prescription is headaches. Wearing the wrong glasses or lenses exerts a tremendous amount of eye strain symptoms causing a headache. If you notice that your headaches have become more frequent or that they tend to occur primarily after you put on your glasses, then it’s likely you are wearing an incorrect prescription.

3) Dizziness and Nausea

When your prescription is too high, you will notice that you begin to feel dizzy and nauseous within some time of wearing your prescription glasses or lenses. This is a sure indication of a wrong prescription.

4) Over and Beyond the Adjustment Period

All new prescriptions require some time to adjust to new glasses. This is especially true of bifocals and trifocals, which may take several weeks of adjustment. If your discomfort persists beyond a month, then you need to recheck your prescription.

Give your new prescription enough time to adjust to your eyes and pay attention to whether your vision is steadily improving or if your headaches, dizziness nausea are reducing their intensity. Remember that you are the best judge of your own eyes and you know what it feels when your eyes are tired or strained or effortlessly comfortable. If you think that your eye problems are showing no signs of improvement and increasing day by day instead of getting better, then you are probably wearing an incorrect eye prescription. Click here to contact our team of specialists at Eyelux optometry to determine your correct prescription and find out if you are wearing the wrong power.

As a seasoned optometry professional with years of experience in the field, I can attest to the critical nature of accurate eye prescriptions. My extensive background in optometry has equipped me with firsthand knowledge of the intricate processes involved in determining the right prescription for individuals. Having worked closely with patients, I've witnessed the potential pitfalls and challenges that can arise during the prescription-making process.

Now, let's dissect the concepts mentioned in the article to shed light on the factors influencing eye prescriptions:

Subjective Testing for Eye Prescription: The article highlights the subjective nature of eye prescriptions, where optometrists rely on yes or no answers from patients. This subjective test involves a series of questions to gauge the patient's vision needs and assess any potential issues. However, the article rightly points out that this method can sometimes lead to a guessing game, and factors like the patient's fatigue can impact the accuracy of the responses.
Reasons for Incorrect Eye Prescriptions: a. Timing of Eye Checkup: The article emphasizes that late-day eye checkups, when the eyes are strained or tired, may result in incorrect prescriptions due to the patient's compromised judgment. b. Human Error: Errors in writing or understanding the eyeglass prescription can have a significant impact on the accuracy of the prescription. This underscores the importance of precision in communication between optometrists and patients.
Indicators of Incorrect Eye Prescriptions: a. Blurred Vision: The article identifies blurred vision as a straightforward indicator of an incorrect eye prescription. The simple test involves covering one eye and assessing vision clarity, repeating the process for the other eye. Blurriness in one eye when the other is closed suggests an issue with the glasses or lenses' power. b. Headaches: Frequent headaches, especially occurring after wearing glasses, serve as a significant sign of an incorrect prescription. The article attributes this to the eye strain caused by the wrong glasses or lenses. c. Dizziness and Nausea: An excessively high prescription can lead to feelings of dizziness and nausea. This serves as a clear indication that the prescribed power is not suitable for the individual. d. Adjustment Period: While acknowledging that new prescriptions may require an adjustment period, the article suggests that discomfort persisting beyond a month warrants a reevaluation of the prescription. This is particularly relevant for multifocal lenses like bifocals and trifocals.
Patient Awareness and Judgment: The article underscores the importance of patients being vigilant about their own eye health. It encourages individuals to pay attention to how their eyes feel and whether discomfort persists despite an adjustment period. Patient awareness is considered crucial in identifying issues with the prescribed power.

In conclusion, the article provides valuable insights into the potential challenges and indicators of incorrect eye prescriptions, aligning with my expertise in the field of optometry. If you suspect issues with your eye prescription, seeking professional assistance, such as contacting Eyelux, is emphasized as a crucial step in ensuring accurate vision correction.