How Often Should You Get New Glasses? Here’s the Truth

Seeing clearly is an important element of your well-being and quality of life. We use our eyes for many tasks, including work, driving, and seeing what’s happening around us. So when your world starts looking a little fuzzy around the edges, it’s not only inconvenient and disempowering, but it can also be downright dangerous.

On top of that, your vision changes with time, so even if your prescription worked for you until recently, it may not be doing such a good job right now.

Which raises the question: how often should you get new glasses?

Let’s see what the experts have to say about this and identify some telltale signs that indicate it may be time to pay a visit to your optometrist. We’ll also share where you can get great quality new glasses at excellent prices — and get them covered by your FSA or HSA.

How Often Should You Get New Glasses?

If you wear glasses or contact lenses (or even if you don’t), regular eye exams are a critical part of good eye care. If you simply keep wearing old glasses with an outdated prescription, you could end up harming your vision further. It’s far better to get new lenses when you need them.

So, how often should you get new glasses?

Optometrists usually suggest updating your glasses every one to three years — but there’s a good chance you may need to replace them sooner.

The American Optometric Association recommends that adults with good vision have an eye exam at least every two years. However, if you’re 65 or older or have risk factors like worsening vision or a history of eye disease in your family, it’s best to schedule an annual eye exam.

This will help you stay on top of changes to your visual acuity and eye health to ensure you replace your glasses when the time is right. It will also give you access to technological developments in optometry, like new lens coatings or frame designs.

Of course, you can get new eyeglasses anytime you choose. If you like to stay abreast of fashion trends, you might also regularly update your eyewear.

Also, remember that daily wear and tear take a toll on your glasses. If the lenses are scratched or cracked, the lens coatings are damaged, the frames are skewed, or you’re holding your specs together with tape, it’s definitely time for a new pair.

That said, there are some signs that should send you to your eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam sooner rather than later.

11 Signs That You Need New Prescription Eyeglasses

Your vision is affected by several factors, including age, health, lifestyle, and stress levels. If you work on a computer, digital eye strain may be an additional factor — which you can also dramatically improve with the right vision correction.

If you’re wondering how often you should get new glasses, look out for these symptoms as indicators that something has changed:

1. You’re experiencing blurry vision or double vision, even when you’re wearing your glasses

2. You can no longer easily read a book or your cell phone screen

3. You need to squint to see, even in normal lighting (it’s natural to squint when the light is too bright — that’s when you need sunglasses)

4. Your eyes are very tired by the end of the day

5. Your eyes often feel itchy, dry, or teary

6. You find yourself blinking a lot

7. You’re seeing floaters, spots, or halos around lights

8. You’re getting frequent headaches, especially after wearing your glasses for most of the day

9. You feel dizzy when you’re wearing your glasses

10. You’ve become more light-sensitive or find it difficult to see at night

11. You’re more uncomfortable when you’re wearing your glasses than when you’re not

If you’re experiencing any of these, your old prescription may no longer be strong enough, or you may need another type of treatment.

What Does an Eye Doctor Check During an Eye Exam?

When you go for a check-up, your eye doctor will test your eyes for refractive errors, like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or astigmatism. These are all caused by an irregularly shaped cornea or lens, and their level of severity may have changed since your old prescription.

And if you’re finding it more challenging to read or see objects up close, you may have developed presbyopia. This happens when the lens of your eye loses some flexibility with age.

Your optometrist will also check for signs of eye diseases, like cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration. They can also pick up signs of other health conditions that affect your vision, like diabetes or Alzheimer's.

During your check-up, ask your eye doctor how often you should get new glasses. If you need them immediately, you’ll likely receive a new eyeglass prescription. Or if you need further specialist care, they’ll refer you to an ophthalmologist.

Where to Get Great Quality Prescription Glasses

When you have your updated prescription and are ready to order your new pair of glasses, head straight to Pair Eyewear. Starting from just $60, we custom-make eyewear to correct all your vision problems.

For example:

• Single-vision glasses with optical powers from -14.5D to +5.00D

• Readers that magnify words to help you read small print

• Progressive lenses (+$199) that offer a smooth transition between the different sections of multifocal glasses

You’ll be happy to know that we accept FSA and HSA cards for all these types of prescription glasses, as well as any functional extras you choose to add.

For example, try one of these popular lens upgrades:

Blue Light Lenses (+$49)

Blue light glasses protect your eyes, especially when you’re online late at night. The light emitted by most device screens can keep you awake and alert — which may be helpful during the day but not at night. Blue light interferes with melatonin production and can leave you struggling to fall asleep and stay asleep. Blue light filters solve this problem for you.

Transition or Light Responsive Lenses (+$149)

Photochromic lenses respond to changes in the light around you. When you’re indoors, they stay transparent, ensuring clear vision in low-light conditions. Then, when you go outside, the tint darkens as it reacts to UV light, giving you regular glasses and sunglasses all in one.

Premium Plus Lenses (+$59)

When you need a high prescription — usually below -6.00 or above +3.00 — your specs can weigh heavy on your face. Our Premium Plus lenses are ultrathin, lightening the load and making it much easier to wear your glasses all day.

Best of all, when you buy from Pair, you get to choose a stylish Base Frame and then add as many gorgeous Top Frames as you please. Top Frames come in a multitude of designs to showcase your personality and complement your outfit. They attach magnetically to your Base Frames, giving you so much versatility in just one pair of glasses.

Note: While prescription Base Frames and lens upgrades are covered by FSA and HSA, if you order Top Frames, you’ll likely need to pay for them yourself.

How to Take Care of Your New Pair of Glasses

So now you know how often you should get new glasses, and you have a brand new pair on their way.

Once your new specs arrive, it’s a good idea to take care of them correctly from the get-go. These are some of the things you can do to make sure your glasses last as long as possible:

• When you’re not wearing them, store them correctly in a protective glasses case.

• Clean them using a cleaning kit designed specifically for eyewear.

• Take them on and off, holding the temple arms with both hands

• Hold them on the bridge when you clean them so you don’t strain the hinges.

• If you put them down for a moment, rest them on the frames, not the lenses.

• Don’t leave them anywhere too hot, for example, in the glove compartment of your car.

Protect Your Vision With The Right Pair of Glasses

Your vision changes with time and circumstances, and many people, therefore, wonder how often you should get new glasses.

If you don’t have severe vision issues, you may only need a new pair every one to three years. But if your vision changes quickly, you may need a new prescription sooner than that.

If you’re older or at risk of vision problems, it’s a good idea to have an annual eye exam. You should also visit your optometrist if you notice any warning signs that your vision is deteriorating.

When you’re ready to order your new prescription glasses, Pair Eyewear is the place to go. With our range of gorgeous Base Frames and Top Frames, you’re sure to find a pair — or two — you love. At great prices and with quality frames and lenses built to last, they’ll take you through to your next prescription update in style.