Does not wearing Glasses make vision worse?

Bluffmaster

Bluffmaster

Explorer
Hi Guys,

Now here is a question to all the Optometrists on TE. Does not wearing glasses if you do not have a perfect vision actually worsen your vision? I googled about it but there is a lot of confusion about the issue. Some say that wearing glasses won't have any effect on Vision and that if the vision is supposed to get worst, it will inspite of wearing glasses. Whereas some people believe that not wearing glasses if you have a requirement for them puts extra stress on your eyes and in turn makes them weak. So I thought of getting this clarified from actual doctors here on TE.

Now, let me tell you my background history. Many many years ago when I was still a teenager, I went to an eye doctor for regular checkup. I have always had good eyesight but this time my right eye had become a little weak. Anyways, he prescribed me glasses with power of 0.25 for the right eye. But I never could get myself to wear those glasses though. It didn't matter to me as it wasn't a big deal and the power was too low for me to actually worry about it.

Now, after many years, I am starting to feel that my eyesight has become a little weaker which I guess is bound to happen with age (I am 24 now). I am guessing, the power to be in the range of 0.50-0.75 at best. Again, its not a big deal and I can very well live without glasses but my concern here is will my eyesight continue to get worse without glasses? Will wearing glasses stop/slowdown the weakening of eyesight with age?

If the only thing the glasses will do is help me see things clearer than I can very well live without them but if they would help me stop my eyesight getting weaker than I may have to seriously reconsider. I just never envisioned myself as the guy with the spectacles. Its weird for me. :(
 
spectacles are cool! , why the aversion to it? , i had a power of .25 when i was 24 and on and off wearing it has now reached .75 probably , just that things are not clear and blurry at far away . computers are all okay , i work without them ...so it is not that big a deal , of course i have no idea how your power loss will progress .... but yea seriously , glasses are nice to wear, people take you seriously :D
 
Its not because I think I'll look weird wearing one, it just that I am not comfortable wearing them. Its like wearing a cap, you know its there even if its protecting you from sun. As far as seeing things are concerned , I am ok with what and how I see right now. If wearing glasses isn't going to stop my eyesight from getting worse than I guess I will wait for the day when I will not be able to see properly without them.
 
Usually I have seen this happen with people, that if they are within the +-0.25 range, proper use of the spectacles corrects the vision. Age is also a factor. Plus with spectacles you strain your eyes less. Squinting/lowering of neck to focus. Persistent headaches.

Were 'em.

:)
 
Well, my father Dr.Dinesh Talwar is one of Delhi's leading vitreous-retina super specialists and he recommends people to wear glasses at least when required, even with small numbers. My sister has a 0.25 and she has bought a pair. You can contact him personally if you want, I will give you his number. He works at Apollo and Centre for Sight!
 
I started with 0.25 in my school days, did not wear glasses for the same reason. In college it shot upto 1.00 and now its hovering at 1.75-2.00.

I would advise you to start wearing glasses or contact, it might not stop further increase but not wearing them will definitely not help either.
 
Yes, mine too was -0.25 when I was in class 10th...didn't take it seriously and now my power shoot up to -1.75...so I would advise you to wear them...
 
Does 'wearing' contact lenses make vision worse? I mean I've a little power, and I'm thinking of getting glasses/contact, but I don't like glasses, so the question.
 
Nope contact lenses doesnt have any adverse affect on your vision , but not wearing spectacles does coz you are basically straining your eyes more to view the same thing then you are supposed to hence the power increases.
 
I too use spectacles from when i was in 11th, 6 years now. I used to get frequent headaches. Had a eye check up in 11th, and i had my eyesight at -0.25(left eye) and -0.75(right). From then on I have been using specs and there has been no change in the power.
 
The only problem would be more strain on your eyes and gradual increase in power on long term. If the power is less than - 1.0 then its easy to reduce and get rid of it with proper eye exercise and good diet. Once you get used to glass its diff to be without it even for low power as you will feel you are watching DVD rip without glass and HD rip with glasses :rofl:
 
XTechManiac said:
Does 'wearing' contact lenses make vision worse? I mean I've a little power, and I'm thinking of getting glasses/contact, but I don't like glasses, so the question.
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Contact lenses have no problems. Just that you have to be careful when removing/placing them. Needs strict hygiene (easy to follow) --- since the eye is sensitive to irritants and infections. Try a pair of disposals before investing in a proper pair.

I use them occasionally and find them decent. Though if you stare a lot at the screen (work) your eyes can dry out and they feel slightly uncomfortable.
 
CeDrIc said:
I too use spectacles from when i was in 11th, 6 years now. I used to get frequent headaches. Had a eye check up in 11th, and i had my eyesight at -0.25(left eye) and -0.75(right). From then on I have been using specs and there has been no change in the power.
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Similar story here. -0.25 (left eye) and -0.75(right). Using glasses everyday whenever I am outside the house and so far no increase or decrease in power. (fingers crossed !)
 
It all depends on your vision weather its +ve or -ve,

Plus there are other factors like if you are having cylinderical vision etc.

Check with your doctor, if he recommend you to wear glasses, I suggest wear em,

or else there is always lazer eye surgery
 
i have -0.25 on one eye and -0.50 on the other since i past 10yrs. i have not been wearing any specs as doc said it wont make any difference if i did or not.

i did try out specs initially for a few months for the cool factor :P

but found it uncomfortable.

i just happened to check eyes last year and number has been same.

I would like to mention that I have been continuously using pc for 8-14hours a day in this period. I do not mean on a stretch of course. I use minimum brightness/contrast so that my eyes are not stressed. and i do not look at the screen continuously unless im gaming. Also, make sure that you do not keep your eyes strained for long in anything.. make sure to blink slowly a few times every now n then ..it may sound absurd but the eyes do get some stress relief that way.

i will be again going for eye checkup since off lately i have been getting headaches.. although i think it is due to new environment at new home. the tube light is right on my back site which strains eyes by reflecting from the screen..will know soon if my eye have been ruined :P
 
asingh said:
proper use of the spectacles corrects the vision.
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Actually its the opposite, your eyes get used to the new artificial environment created by the glasses and usually vision correction gets difficult with time.

To correct the vision one must do properly exercise the eyes.
 
As far as pure science goes, there is no real direct relation between worsening vision and not wearing glasses.

People do say that if you dont wear glasses your vision will get worse, but there is no scientific proof for that. We had a nice debate regarding this with my dad's friends many of whom are ophthalmologist few years back.

The real reason why you should use them if you have vision problem that can be corrected with glasses is to relieve strain. A lot of irritation ( many of the times unnoticed by the patient himself ), lack of concentration, short temper, headaches / heavy heads, bad moods occur due to vision problems which are knowingly or unknowingly left untreated.

Try different frames. For some the good old style ceramic / plastic frames which have much larger contact area with nose are area around eye cause lot less irritation than the modern glasses which have contact area only on nose. They are also back in style :P
 
rite said:
Well, my father Dr.Dinesh Talwar is one of Delhi's leading vitreous-retina super specialists and he recommends people to wear glasses at least when required, even with small numbers. My sister has a 0.25 and she has bought a pair. You can contact him personally if you want, I will give you his number. He works at Apollo and Centre for Sight!
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How about you write up an article on proper Eye Exercises with the help of your dad for the benefit of members here... I am sure it would be appreciated here & will help people to maybe reduce their required power for glasses...
 
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