Headaches and eye pain caused by wearing glasses are common. They often originate from the consistent use of improperly fitted eyeglasses. Glasses that are too small can pinch and squeeze, while those that are too large may shift and slip.
Frames with either fit problem can put pressure on your nose or the sides of your head, causing headaches or discomfort. Frames that sit too close or too far from your eyes can be uncomfortable, too.
If you’re satisfied with the fit of your glasses, your prescription may need to be changed. It’s also possible that a new prescription is causing you trouble.
Let’s explore some other possible reasons you might experience eye pain or a headache from glasses — and what you can do to get the best wear out of your favorite specs.
If it has been more than a year since your last eye exam, it’s probably time to have your vision checked. Experts recommend a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years. If you’ve recently started experiencing a headache from wearing your glasses, it may be time to book an appointment with your optometrist.
How do you know whether you need a new glasses prescription? Only a trained eye doctor can tell you for sure. But if you find that you have to squint to see clearly, you may need an updated vision prescription. Having to work harder to see things clearly could be a cause of headaches or eye strain.
Ever experienced a “new glasses headache,” or wondered why your new glasses make you dizzy?
Your optometrist may have warned you that a brand-new prescription can initially cause blurry vision, eye strain, or headaches. These symptoms can occur even with correctly sized frames and the right prescription. In most cases, this discomfort will pass in a day or two, as adjusting to a new prescription can take a little time.
Resting your eyes by removing your glasses may help with discomfort as you adapt to your new prescription. But you should still wear your eyeglasses as your optometrist recommends. If you repeatedly remove your glasses, your eyes and brain must work harder, and adjusting will take longer.
If you wear the glasses as prescribed, any vision issues should resolve within a week or two. If a week or more has passed and you’re still experiencing discomfort, check in again with your eye doctor to see if your prescription needs adjusting.
Incorrectly adjusted frames or lenses can cause a headache when you’re wearing your glasses. Your frames should also rest comfortably in a position that puts the lenses at the proper distance from your eyes.
Your glasses lenses are customized to match the distance between your pupils. This is called pupillary distance [PD] measurement. Blurry or uncomfortable vision could be due to an incorrect PD. Your eye doctor can confirm that the lenses in your glasses incorporate the appropriate measurement.
Heavy glasses or an incorrect frame adjustment can cause pain behind the ears if the temples pinch the sides of your head. Frames that are too small can bind, and frames that are too loose may slip down your nose or rest in the wrong place. In either case, your eyes have to work harder to compensate, which can result in eye strain or a headache from glasses.
An optician can adjust your frames to ensure your glasses fit properly.
In addition to a headache from glasses, you may experience bothersome eye strain.
Eye strain sometimes comes from the overworking of muscles around the eye that must continually adjust to focus. Repeated attempts to focus occur for different reasons, including acclimating to a new prescription.
Eye strain is also a common problem among computer users, due to the close working distance and glare from digital screens. This kind of strain is called digital eye strain.
Ditch the Reading Glasses for Computer Use
Wearing reading glasses while using the computer is a habit that often causes eye strain. Remember, readers are for close-up work — closer than the normal distance between you and a monitor. Speak with your eye doctor to ensure you’re using the appropriate lens power for viewing your computer screen.
Address Excessive Screen Time
Eye strain can happen to anyone who spends a lot of time looking at screens, whether they wear glasses or not. Simple eye strain fixes include adjusting the lighting in your workspace and following the 20-20-20 rule. (Look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.)
If possible, try reducing your screen time altogether.
Try Blue Light Glasses and Anti-Reflective Lens Coatings
The effects of screen-related eye strain (including headaches and eye fatigue) can be mitigated with a variety of lens options.
A blue light filtering coating can filter out about 20% of blue-violet light and help to reduce glare. It can be applied to prescription or non-prescription lenses.
So, even people who don’t normally wear glasses can find relief from screen-related discomfort.
Anti-reflective lens coatings can cut down on screen glare and eye strain. Finally, looking through scratched lenses may cause eye discomfort, so replace your lenses as necessary.
Give Your Eyes a Break
The best way to relieve eye strain is to give your eyes periodic breaks throughout the day. Sit in a darkened room without your eyeglasses for fifteen minutes at a time, and allow your eyes and the muscles around them to relax. Don’t take your glasses off for longer than about fifteen minutes at a time though. The only way to adjust to them fully is to wear them consistently throughout the day.
While you may hear about eye strain in conjunction with the use of digital screens, this common condition characterized by sore, dry, itchy, watery eyes and blurred vision can also be caused by wearing the incorrect prescription, or glasses that don't fit properly.
Eye strain is not necessarily dangerous, and does not cause long-lasting damage, so if you're experiencing sore, watery eyes or blurry vision with a new set of glasses, allow your eyes a few days to adjust.
Eye strain or pain caused by a new prescription should clear up after a few days, or up to two weeks at the most. If you experience eye strain for more than two weeks with a new pair of eyeglasses, consult with your eye doctor to ensure you've received the proper prescription. If you're experiencing eye strain from prolonged use of screens, usually taking a break for a few hours will help it pass.
The best way to relieve eye strain is to give your eyes periodic breaks throughout the day. Sit in a darkened room without your eyeglasses for 15 minutes at a time, and allow your eyes and the muscles around them to relax. Don't take your glasses off for longer than about 15 minutes at a time, though, as the only way to adjust to your new glasses fully is to wear them consistently throughout the day.
For digital eye strain, always opt for anti-reflective coating.Blue light-filtering coatings can also increase eye comfort. Whether or not you choose to wear glasses, we also recommend practicing the 20-20-20 rule, where you look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes throughout the day to reduce digital eye fatigue.
In addition, don’t use lighting that is too bright or harsh, and remember to blink as needed.
Reviewed by Sonia Kelley, OD, MS on June 27, 2023