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When should I change my spectacles?

Spectacles do not come with an expiry date. Some people wear the same pair happily for years, while a growing child may need new lenses within a year. What matters is whether the power is still right, whether the lenses are still clear, and whether the frame still holds them in the right place. This guide explains the signs to watch for and how often to get your eyes checked.

Signs that your spectacle power may have changed

• Road signs, bus numbers, the television or the board at school look less sharp than before.
• You hold your phone or newspaper further away to read it, or take your spectacles off to read.
• You squint, frown or close one eye to see clearly.
• Your eyes feel tired, or you get headaches, after reading, screen work or driving.
• One eye seems clearer than the other.
• Driving or riding at night has become harder, with more glare from headlights.
• You see better with an old pair, or without spectacles, than with your present pair.

Any of these is a reason for an eye test for glasses, even if your spectacles are fairly new.

How often should you have your eyes checked?

• Children who wear spectacles: every 6 to 12 months, or as the eye doctor advises, because power can change as they grow.
• Children without spectacles: a check before starting school, and whenever a parent or teacher notices a problem.
• Adults under 40: every one to two years, or sooner if vision changes.
• Adults from 40 to 60: every one to two years. Reading power usually increases every couple of years during this time. See reading glasses after 40.
• Over 60: every year, as cataract, glaucoma and macular degeneration become more common.
• Anyone with diabetes: a full eye check-up every year, even if the spectacles feel fine. About one adult in four in Goa has diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB study, 2023).

This is general guidance. If you have glaucoma, diabetes, a family history of eye disease or a high power, your eye doctor may want to see you more often. A complete eye check-up covers the eye pressure and the retina as well as your power.

When the lenses are worn out

Even if the power is right, lenses wear out. Scratches in the centre of the lens blur your view and scatter light from headlights at night. Coatings can peel, craze into fine cracks or turn patchy, usually after heat (a car dashboard in the sun, hot water) or harsh cleaners. Scratches and damaged coatings cannot be polished away; the lens has to be replaced. Children's lenses get scratched quickly and often need replacing before the power changes.

When the frame is the problem

A bent or loose frame shifts the lenses away from the centre of your eyes, which can cause strain even when the power is correct. If your spectacles slip, tilt, pinch or have a broken hinge, an adjustment may be enough. If the frame is cracked, rusted or keeps breaking, it is time for a new one.

Changes that need an eye doctor, not just new spectacles

Some changes in vision are signs of eye disease. Do not wait for a routine check if you notice any of these:

• Sudden blurring or loss of vision in one or both eyes. Get seen the same day.
• Flashes of light, a shower of new floaters, or a shadow or curtain across part of your vision. These can be signs of a retinal detachment and need urgent care. ReNew Vision provides emergency eye care 24 hours a day.
• Straight lines that look wavy, or a blurred patch in the centre of your vision, which can point to a problem in the macula.
• A painful red eye with halos around lights, headache or vomiting, which can be a sudden rise in eye pressure (acute glaucoma) and is an emergency.
• Power that keeps changing within months. This can be caused by blood sugar that is high or swinging, or by a developing cataract.
• Vision that is still not clear with new spectacles.

Older people sometimes find they can suddenly read without their spectacles. This "second sight" is often an early sign of cataract changing the focus of the eye's lens. It is worth a check; see our page on cataract surgery in Vasco.

Times of life when you often need new spectacles

• In your early to mid 40s, when reading becomes harder.
• A few weeks after cataract surgery, once the eye doctor says the eye has settled.
• Once your blood sugar is steady after diabetes treatment has been started or changed.
• When you start a job with long hours at a screen, a counter or a workbench.
• When you are about to renew a driving licence or apply for a job that needs an eye fitness certificate.

Does wearing spectacles make the eyes weaker?

No. Spectacles do not change the eye itself. Power changes because the eye grows in childhood, because the eye's lens ages after 40, and sometimes because of eye disease. Wearing your spectacles as prescribed simply lets you see clearly and comfortably. Not wearing them does not strengthen the eyes.

Should I keep my old spectacles?

An old pair can be a useful spare if you lose or break your main pair, especially during the monsoon. Do not drive with an old pair if your power has changed noticeably since it was made.

Getting checked in Vasco

ReNew Vision's eye OPD is open Monday to Saturday, 4 pm to 7 pm, and closed on Sunday. Bring your present spectacles and any old prescriptions. The power test, the eye health check and the choice of new frames and lenses can all be done at the Vision Correction Centre in the same eye hospital in Vaddem. Call or WhatsApp 072489 88039 with any questions.

Questions patients ask

How often should I change my glasses?

There is no fixed time. Change them when your power has changed, when the lenses are scratched, or when the frame no longer fits. Most adults should have a check every one to two years, and children with spectacles every 6 to 12 months.

Can I keep using spectacles with scratched lenses?

Light scratches at the edge may not matter, but scratches in the centre blur vision and cause glare at night. Scratches cannot be polished out safely, so replace the lenses, especially if you drive or ride at night.

Why do I see better without my glasses when reading?

If you are short-sighted, taking your spectacles off can make near things clearer once you are past 40. In older people, being able to read suddenly without spectacles can also be an early sign of cataract. An eye check tells which it is.

Does wearing spectacles all the time make my eyes weaker?

No. Spectacles do not weaken or strengthen the eyes. Power changes with age, with eye growth in children, and sometimes with eye disease, not because you wear spectacles.

My power changes every few months. Is that normal?

No. Frequent changes can be caused by high or swinging blood sugar, a developing cataract or other eye conditions. See the eye doctor for a full check rather than just changing lenses again.

This page is general eye-health information, not personal medical advice. Your eye doctor advises you after examining your eyes.