Why Are My New Glasses Making Me Dizzy? What to Do

Sometimes when you get a new pair of glasses, a whole new world opens up the moment you put them on. Sometimes, the opposite happens, and you suddenly have (even more) blurry vision.

You might experience other physical symptoms too and wonder what’s wrong — for example, “Why are my new glasses making me dizzy?” Before you call your optician to complain, take a deep breath.

The key here is not to panic. It’s normal for your body to take some time to adjust to your new prescription glasses.

Before you rush back to your optometrist, let’s investigate what to expect while you’re going through that adjustment period and why it happens. We’ll also discuss what you can do to help the process along and when you should go back to your eye doctor.

Why Are My New Glasses Making Me Dizzy?

New glasses change the way your vision works (for the better). Refractive errors, the most common vision issues addressed with prescription eyewear, occur when light does not hit your retina properly. This can occur because your eyeball is shaped differently, your cornea is flatter than normal, or your lens is thicker, making it harder for light to reach the retina.

Whether this is your first time wearing glasses or you’ve been wearing your old glasses for a couple of years, your eyes and brain have become used to a certain way of processing what you see. New prescription glasses change how light is collected and sent back to the retina, which then sends that light to your brain in the form of electrical signals.

Currently, you’re used to how your eyes collect light and how your brain interprets it, even if it’s blurry. Then, you get a new pair of glasses. Suddenly, you can see clearly, which isn’t what your eyes or brain are used to.

Perhaps you suffer from nearsightedness and have just bought higher prescription glasses for driving. Or maybe you’ve recently developed presbyopia so you now have reading glasses or progressive lenses. Need specs to play your favorite outdoor sport? You might invest in some prescription sunglasses.

Whatever the case may be, it’s normal to feel off when you wear a new pair of glasses for the first time. Here’s what can cause dizziness:

• Your first prescription lenses

• New prescription lenses with higher optical power to correct for worsening eyesight

• A different lens type — such as going from single vision glasses to bifocals or progressive lenses

• A new lens shape with a different curvature than your old lenses — for example, if you change from square to round glasses

• Different lens material — like changing from polycarbonate to high-index lenses as your prescription gets stronger

• A new frame shape or size that sits differently on your face

• A frame that weighs a bit more or a bit less than your old one

• Sun protection or a blue-light filter

Blue light glasses shouldn’t make you feel dizzy, so if they do, contact the manufacturer or your optician for more options. Your eye muscles may need some time to acclimate to your new lenses, but blue light filters shouldn’t make it more difficult.

While you’re busy adjusting, though, you might experience some side effects.

Symptoms to Expect From New Eyeglasses

If you’re wondering why your new glasses are making you dizzy, you aren’t alone. During the adjustment period to a new eyeglass prescription, some people experience dizziness or blurred vision — the most common side effects — and/or several other symptoms:

• Eye strain, which can lead to fatigue

• Blurry vision, making it difficult to see clearly

• Distortion, where objects seem wavy or warped

• Fishbowl effect, where your world seems curved at the edges

• A kind of motion sickness, as your body adjusts how it relates to the space around you

• Vertigo, or feeling off-balance and unsteady on your feet

• Difficulty with depth perception, which makes it hard to judge distance

Possibly most disruptive, your new glasses may even cause headaches or nausea, which nobody’s a fan of.

These symptoms may also be caused by conditions unrelated to your glasses, like an inner ear infection or vertigo. If you suspect you are sick, get a checkup from your healthcare provider.

How Long Does a New Pair of Glasses Make You Dizzy?

The period of time it takes for your body to adjust to your new glasses varies. On average though, most people experience symptoms for a few days up to a couple of weeks before things stabilize again.

However, if you have astigmatism or are changing from single vision glasses to bifocals or progressive lenses, it may take a bit longer — possibly up to a month.

Stick with the process for a while, but if your symptoms persist much longer than that, you may want to contact your eye doctor. The exception here is headaches. If you experience those for longer than a few days, make that appointment sooner rather than later.

Your prescription eyeglasses might not be correct — this often occurs when you attempt to use an outdated, incorrect prescription. To correct it, you’ll need to head to your doctor for a new eye exam. Then, you can toss out your old pair of glasses (or the new glasses with the old prescription) and opt for a pair with your new, likely stronger prescription.

Additionally, where your glasses sit can make a surprisingly big difference, especially if you’re wearing bifocals or progressive lenses, which require precise measurements.

How to Get Used to Your New Eyeglasses

No one could blame you for being frustrated if your new glasses make you dizzy. However, there are some things you can do to support your body while it adjusts.

• Be patient and persistent. It could be that your eyes need to acclimate to wearing new glasses over the course of a few days.

• Be an AM glasses wearer. When adjusting to new eyewear, the best time to wear your new specs is in the morning, before your eyes become fatigued.

• Practice good eye care by taking breaks regularly to give your eyes time to rest. Also get good quality sleep and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

• Be careful with dizziness. If you feel dizzy or disoriented, don’t drive, don’t attempt to use stairs, and don’t put yourself in a dangerous situation where you could get hurt.

• Have fun with your glasses! If you order yours from Pair Eyewear, you’ll start by selecting a Base Frame. Then you can choose from a huge range of Top Frames to suit your mood, personality, and/or your outfit for the day. Why limit yourself to just one pair when you could have specs that sparkle or look like works of art? Why settle for one frame style when you can have them all?

Important Note: Whenever you order glasses online, make sure you enter the correct prescription and pupillary measurements (the distance between the pupils of your eyes). With all those numbers, or in a moment of distraction, it’s easy to type in the wrong ones.

New Glasses Making You Dizzy? Don’t Panic

When you get new glasses, it’s normal to feel a bit strange. Your eyes and brain both need time to get used to a new way of seeing the world. You may be asking questions like, “Why are my new glasses making me dizzy/nauseous/tired?” for a while.

For high-quality glasses, head over to Pair and have fun with your look!