Any Opticians about? Why is my prescription wrong :(

[UserThenLotsOfNumbers]

I've been wearing glasses since a young age, My prescription has changed over the years, and my new glasses have always been fine.

Until 2 years ago! I'm 35 if this is relevant.

2 years ago I had my 2-yearly eye test. I was told my prescription had changed and I needed new glasses. Ok great. New glasses seemed a bit strong but I thought it would take a little while to get used to them. Nope, they were just the wrong prescription. At the time I had a young baby and was renovating a property, so I just went back to wearing my old glasses. I know I should've gone back really.

This year I again went for a 2-yearly eye test. Different optician. Same thing happened again! This time the prescription was very obviously wrong. The opticians to be fair did another test and provided new revised glasses for free. Again, these seemed ok at first, but after a week of trying it became obvious they were too strong and giving me headaches etc. Again, I've gone back to wearing my old glasses.

Please tell me -
Why does this happen?
Is there something wrong with my brain??
My eye health checks are all normal.
The only think that's been different in the last few years is all the eye checks they do beforehand.
Help please!

Bump

Do you have astigmatism by any chance? The only time I had a problem on these lines was when they slightly raised the astigmatism part of the prescription. It was totally the correct prescription but I found everything looked weird and very slightly blurred. The optician said she would lower the astigmatism figure back to the previous prescription because some people are very sensitive to alterations to even a slight increase. The new specs were absolutely fine after she did that.

Generally I think though is that if the prescription is right for you there should hardly be any ‘having to get used to it’ unless its changed radically from the previous one. Definitely go back though because they need to try work out what’s going on.

Go back in, take new and old glasses in and explain. It could be one of a few things.
some people's eyes prefer having a weaker prescription than they actually need
sometimes the base curve of the previous lens if preferred and a different form of lens is needed
sometimes the previous lenses may sit differently giving you more prismatic power, which your eyes may prefer.

it's unlikely to be anything serious as your previous glasses are okay. certain things can make your prescription change transiently; pregnancy, diabetes, corneal problems, dryness, contact lens wear, but again unlikely.

please do go back and have everything checked again (preferably with an optometrist and dispensing optician). don't be at all embarrassed having to go back in, we want to help and get it right.

Thanks thecreosotekid. I don't have astigmatism (never been told I have it anyway). I agree with you that new glasses shouldn't take very much getting used to, that was my experience until a few years ago.

Thanks so much underneaththeash that's very helpful advice! I intend on starting again and explaining what been going on. I don't have any of the transient issues you mention. I am wondering if it's a case of my eyes need a weaker prescription than what they are. The initial pair I got was very wrong but the second pair wasn't too far out.

Thanks again for your advice both.

Good luck in getting sorted.

Specsavers?
They tried three times to make me a pair of glasses I could actually see through. Got my money back and went to an independent - had no problems since.

Hi rylsys, thanks for your reply - I don't feel so alone now lol
2 years ago I went to Specsavers, and my most recent check up was at Boots Opticians.
I have used Specsavers in the past with no issues, and the glasses I'm wearing now are from there.
There are plenty of opticians in town, including independent, so I think I'll just try again somewhere new.

I go to an independent opticians where they still do the test themselves rather than relying on computers. After they have worked out the prescription she always does a check to see if there is a ' more comfortable' version that I prefer. I prefer the human approach.

I've had the very same thing and it was Specsavers. I went back with them a couple of times but was told I just need to get used to the new glasses but I cannot. Will go back next week as it's half term and try to get it sorted yet again. Annoying!

I would go back and ask them about whether there is an astigmatism. Mine didn’t develop until after I’d been wearing glasses and contacts for over 20 years. But the smallest degree out of sync and my eyesight won’t be right and headaches will start. So I would double check that

For me this turned out to be the angle of the lens - it needed to be adjusted in the frame and was to do with the style of frame I had this time. Took 2 minutes and it was fixed for free in front of me. I was so surprised! Exactly the same issues as you describe.

Take your glasses back in, old and new, and have a chat. They can measure everything up and check them for you.