Why is it important to wear the prescribed correction?

Many patients – both younger and older – choose not to wear their recommended vision correction or use it only occasionally. The reasons vary: convenience, habit, absence of noticeable symptoms, or the belief that the eyes should “work on their own”. However, long-term neglect of glasses or contact lenses may lead to a range of consequences, both functional and adaptive.

Myopia and close-range work without glasses in young people

In young individuals with myopia, frequent removal of glasses can have a negative effect on the eye muscles and, consequently, on the mechanism of accommodation. This most often occurs when patients wear glasses only for distance vision and regularly take them off when reading, working at a computer, or using a smartphone. Such habits may contribute to faster eye fatigue, headaches, and disturbances in visual acuity. Contact lens wearers are in a somewhat better position in this respect, as the correction is constantly in place and the eyes function under appropriate optical conditions at all times.

“Plus” correction in young people

In young individuals, particularly those with hyperopia (a plus refractive error), so-called relaxation glasses are often recommended for reading, computer work, and smartphone use. Their purpose is to reduce the accommodative demand and prevent excessive strain on the visual system.

If such correction is not worn regularly, the visual system remains under increased tension for years. As a result, adapting to glasses later in life may be significantly more difficult. Around the age of 40–45, these patients often find themselves requiring progressive lenses or two separate pairs of glasses (one for distance and one for close-up vision), which can come as a surprise and is frequently associated with a longer adaptation period.

Hyperopia and presbyopia (age-related far-sightedness)

People with hyperopia often see well at distance until around the age of 40 and therefore do not feel the need for vision correction. For many years, the visual system adapts to the existing refractive error; however, with age this adaptation becomes increasingly difficult. At that point, the absence of near-vision correction may lead to growing symptoms such as eye strain, headaches, and difficulties with reading.

Lack of prior correction and laser vision correction

Sometimes patients present for qualification for laser vision correction without having previously worn glasses or contact lenses, despite clear indications for refractive correction.

Firstly, the sudden achievement of full visual acuity may be difficult to adapt to and can result in symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, or a general sense of visual discomfort. Secondly, the absence of prior correction makes it impossible to reliably assess the stability of the refractive error – there is no reference point that would allow evaluation of how the eyes function once the defect is corrected. In some cases, it may also not be possible to achieve full correction in such patients.

For this reason, laser vision correction should not be the first choice for individuals who have not previously used any form of correction. In such cases, a gradual introduction of glasses or contact lenses is often recommended, allowing the eyes to adapt to proper vision and enabling a safer and more accurate assessment before any potential laser procedure.

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