When you’re prescribed eyeglasses or contact lenses by an eye care provider, you might think that that’s all the vision changes you should expect. But while a corrective prescription may be suitable for many years, there are several reasons why it may change in the future. In many cases, these shifts are normal and simply require an update to your vision care routine. However, in other situations, worsening sight may be the sign of a bigger problem. To help you know what to do when your prescription isn’t working anymore, consider this vision care guide.

When Is Changing Vision Normal & What Causes It?

If you’ve been diagnosed as nearsighted, it’s normal for individuals to experience progressive changes in their vision as they grow older. Typically, these changes are experienced among adolescents as they enter adulthood. However, middle-aged adults may also experience physical changes to the eye that cause them to become farsighted in addition to their pre-existing nearsightedness.

Young children with farsightedness may experience the opposite process and develop better vision with age—especially if they’ve been prescribed corrective eyeglasses from an early age.

In either situation, you may notice that your vision is blurry even while wearing glasses or contact lenses. As the eyes try to focus and resolve these changes, frequent headaches may also occur.

Can Sight Change Temporarily?

People with diabetes may develop temporary blurriness if their blood sugar is too high.

Pregnant women, on the other hand, may experience hormonal changes that cause temporary issues with eyewear prescriptions.

Individuals with chronic dry eye may also find that their vision is considerably blurry without proper lubrication.  

While these problems may not always require new eyeglasses, it’s still important to discuss them with an optometrist to determine what you can do to protect and improve your sight.

When Is Changing Vision a Sign of a Serious Problem?

Normal changes to vision prescriptions generally occur gradually. By contrast, sudden vision loss, double vision, light sensitivity, or pain may be a sign of a serious eye disease—such as glaucoma or cataracts. In these situations, it’s best to see an eye doctor as soon as possible for a diagnosis and treatment.

Whether your vision changes are gradual or sudden, it’s best to visit an eye doctor as soon as possible. If you’re in need of an eye exam in Clintonville, or New London, WI, turn to Griebenow Eyecare for comprehensive treatment. Utilizing the latest diagnostic tools, this clinic can accurately pinpoint changes in vision, as well as detect ocular diseases. Depending on your needs, this provider will introduce you to state-of-the-art solutions for improved ocular health—including prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, surgical treatments, and medications. For more information on these services, visit this Waupaca County optometrist online. To schedule an exam, call a friendly associate at (800) 427-9585.