You’ve been squinting at your phone more lately. Street signs seem a bit blurrier than they used to be. Your glasses just don’t feel quite right anymore. Sound familiar? Your glasses are likely past their prime.
Glasses prescriptions are valid for 1-2 years, depending on your age, visual concerns, and overall health.
Your eyesight changes over time, sometimes gradually and sometimes more noticeably, which is why this validity period exists in the first place. Renewing your prescription encourages timely routine eye exams for strong visual health.
A Valid Glasses Prescription: Why it Matters
it’s completely normal for your eyesight to change. What seemed like perfect vision correction a few years ago may not be adequate today.
This is the reason why glasses prescriptions are valid for 2 years from the date of your comprehensive eye exam. You can find the expiry date on the physical prescription itself. If you’ve been wearing the same specs for 2 years or longer, you’re not required to change them, but an outdated prescription isn’t doing your eyes any favours.
Besides, if you’re looking to buy a new pair of corrective glasses, a valid prescription is a must.
It might sound like an inconvenience, but it isn’t meant to be. Renewing your glasses encourages you to stay on top of your routine eye exams, not only to monitor your vision, but also to detect any potential concerns early for timely intervention.
There is some nuance in this guideline.
At the end of every eye exam, we’ll let you know if we recommend a glasses update. In some cases, there’s little to no change in the prescriptions. People might hold off on new specs or opt for a new pair for insurance purposes. Other times, the change is significant enough to warrant new lenses.
What Influences Your Prescription’s Validity?
Although 2 years is the general guideline, some people’s prescriptions might be valid for a shorter period. This can happen for several reasons:
- Age: Children (19 and under) often need annual eye exams because their eyes are developing and changing rapidly. Adults 65 and older also benefit from annual exams because of their susceptibility to developing age-related eye conditions.
- Existing Eye Conditions: If you have diabetes, glaucoma, or other eye-related health issues, your optometrist might recommend annual exams to monitor changes and adjust your prescription as needed.
- Your Overall Health: Certain medications, health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, and even pregnancy can affect your vision and may require more frequent monitoring.
In these cases, glasses prescriptions are valid for 1 year to encourage renewal and frequent check-ins. This is especially beneficial if your optometrist is monitoring for certain eye conditions or managing concerns such as myopia progression or glaucoma, to see how well your eyes are responding to treatment.
Time for an Update? Signs to Watch For
Your eyes have their own way of telling you when something’s not quite right. Here are the most common signs that your glasses prescription might be outdated:
- Frequent headaches are often the first indicator. When your eyes strain to focus through an incorrect prescription, this can trigger headaches, especially after reading, computer work, or other close-up tasks.
- Eye strain and fatigue become more noticeable when your prescription is no longer accurate. You might find yourself rubbing your eyes more often or feeling tired after activities that never bothered you before.
- Blurry vision is an obvious sign of an out-of-date prescription, but it can develop so gradually that you might not notice it at first. If you’re squinting more often or holding books and menus at arm’s length, it’s time for an eye exam.
- Difficulty with night vision or seeing halos around lights can indicate changes in your prescription or the development of eye conditions that need attention.
Even if your vision prescription is relatively new, it’s worth having a comprehensive exam. Changes in your sight can stem from underlying conditions that optometrists can uncover with a thorough evaluation. The sooner we identify the concern, the better.
What About Contact Lenses?
A quick note for any contact lens wearers: you need a valid prescription to replenish your supply. Unlike glasses prescriptions, which can be valid for up to 2 years, all contact lens prescriptions are only valid for 1 year.
Contacts and glasses correct your vision, but in different ways. It all comes down to placement. Glasses sit a few millimetres away from your eyes, while contacts rest directly on your eyes. This distinction is reflected in their prescriptions, which they do not share.
Contacts are popular for a reason, but they require a lot more maintenance than glasses. Along with annual exams and fittings, proper lens handling is a must for your comfort, vision, and overall eye health.
Keep Your Visual Health a Priority
A current glasses prescription isn’t about wearing the most stylish frames or following the latest eyewear trends. It encourages you to stay regular with your routine eye exams; a simple, yet effective way to protect your visual health.
If you’ve been rocking the same specs for several years, or you’re noticing changes in your vision, it’s time to visit our Northern Lights Eyecare optometry team. Contact us today to book an appointment for your routine eye exam.