Do I need glasses?

Many people need glasses, most often to correct refractive errors to help them see clearly. A routine eye test can check whether you need glasses, and the NHS recommends having one at least every two years. If you notice vision changes, or symptoms such as headaches or tired eyes, don't wait for your next routine appointment; see your optician for a check-up.

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Signs that you need glasses

People of all ages can need glasses to correct their vision. Our eyesight can also change over time, so even if you didn't need glasses as a child, your vision could change, especially in middle age. Some people who need glasses don't have obvious symptoms, while for others, the symptoms can creep up gradually. Symptoms can be harder to notice than sudden vision problems. Some of the signs of needing glasses include:

Blurry vision
Double vision
Frequent headaches
Squinting
Eye strain
Difficulty with night vision
Seeing halos around bright lights like lightbulbs and headlights.

The most common reason to need glasses is a refractive error. Refractive errors happen when light travelling into the eye doesn't focus correctly on the retina at the back of the eye. Types of refractive errors include:

Farsightedness, or hyperopia (trouble seeing close up objects clearly)
Shortsightedness, or myopia (trouble with distance vision)
Astigmatism (when the shape of the eyeball causes blurred vision at any distance)
Presbyopia (a common symptom of ageing when focusing on near objects becomes harder)

If you notice any new vision problems, see your optician for an eye exam. During an eye exam, you'll not only get a vision test but an overall eye health check, which can help detect common eye conditions such as cataracts.

If your glasses prescription isn't up to date, or you have an uncorrected refractive error, you may experience eye strain. Eye strain can happen when your eyes have to work harder than normal to focus. The symptoms of eye strain include:

Tired, irritated, itchy eyes

Watery eyes

Dry eyes

Blurred vision and double vision

Neck, shoulder and backache

Headaches

Feeling you need to close your eyes

There can be other reasons for eye strain, such as long periods looking at a computer screen and digital devices.
Frequent headaches can be a sign you need glasses. When your eyes strain to see clearly, the effort and tiredness can lead to headaches. You might notice these headaches are focused at the front of your head or temples.

Headaches can also happen when you get new pair of glasses, which can be frustrating. New glasses can cause headaches for several reasons, but all can be managed so the headaches won't last:

Your eyes might need time to adjust to the vision correction from a new prescription. Sometimes, your eye muscles have to work harder to see with a new prescription, leading to muscle strain and headaches. Bifocal, trifocal and multifocal lenses can be harder to adjust to, but your eyes usually adapt, and this side effect will wear off.

If you've chosen new frames along with new lenses, these can contribute to headaches if they're poorly fitted. Your eye care professional should make sure they fit well on the bridge of your nose and behind your ears. If your new frames feel uncomfortable, go back to your optician for them to be adjusted.

If your headaches persist after several days of wearing new glasses and the fit of the frames has been checked, there's a chance your prescription isn't quite right. Speak to your optician about whether you need a repeat eye test.
If you already wear glasses, your prescription can still change over time. For example, it's very common for people to develop presbyopia after 40, on top of existing refractive errors like farsightedness and shortsightedness. A comprehensive eye exam every two years should pick up changes in your prescription. However, you may notice signs of needing a new prescription before then, such as headaches, eye strain, squinting, blurred or double vision, and trouble with night vision. If you notice changes like this, see your optician straight away, don't wait for your regular appointment.

How do I know if I need glasses?

The best way to know whether you need glasses is to have a comprehensive eye exam with your optician. An eye test will check your overall eye health and your vision, so even if you don't currently wear glasses, you should still have regular eye tests.

The NHS recommends we all get our eyes tested every two years. Some people might need more regular eye exams, for example, children who wear glasses and adults over 40 with a family history of glaucoma.

Do I need reading glasses?

It's common to need reading glasses as we age. This is due to a refractive error, presbyopia, that often develops in people over 40. You might notice you get tired from doing a lot of close up work, need to hold books further from your eyes and find it takes longer for your vision to adjust between looking at near and far objects.

Your optician can advise you on whether you simply need reading glasses, often available to buy over the counter, or whether you need prescription glasses.

Do I need glasses for driving?

The DVLA has minimum eyesight standards for visual acuity and field of vision that you must meet to drive. The standards are slightly higher for lorry and bus drivers. If you don't meet this standard, you may need to wear corrective lenses for driving.

Some eye conditions that affect your vision must be reported to the DVLA. You have to tell the DVLA about some eye conditions, even if they only affect one eye, including retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, and strabismus with double vision. Other eye conditions must be reported to the DVLA if they affect both eyes, including central serous retinopathy, macular degeneration, and uveitis.

Frequently asked questions

Blue light eyewear is designed to reduce the amount of blue light travelling into your eye from digital devices like smartphones. However, there isn't clear evidence that blue light damages your eye health, so the benefit of wearing blue light glasses for your eyes is unknown. Problems like eye strain from using digital devices are due to blinking less and eye fatigue after prolonged screen use.
The most reliable way to know if you need a new glasses prescription is to have a comprehensive eye exam with your optician. An eye test will include visual acuity and refraction tests to confirm your prescription. The NHS recommends having an eye test every two years, but see your optician if you notice vision changes or have any concerns.

Conclusion

Regular eye tests check your vision and make sure you're wearing the correct prescription glasses. Even if you've never worn glasses, regular eye tests are important for monitoring any changes to your sight and for your eye health. Having the correct prescription ensures your vision is clear and prevents complications of uncorrected refractive errors such as headaches and eye strain.

Explore more topics in our eye health hub

Medically reviewed by: The Royal College of Ophthalmologists on 28/07/2022

Edited by: Nick Astbury FRCS FRCOphth FRCP
Clinical Associate Professor
LSHTM

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists champions excellence in the practice of ophthalmology and is the only professional membership body for medically qualified ophthalmologists. The RCOphth is unable to offer direct advice to patients. If you’re concerned about the health of your eyes, you should seek medical advice from your GP, optometrist or ophthalmologist.