Medicated glasses are simply those prescribed to match the wearer’s specific needs. About 253 million people worldwide have refractive errors and need medicated glasses. 90% of this burden lies in developing and low to middle-income countries.
In Nigeria, an estimated 4.25 million people are blind or visually impaired. Over 80% of this visual impairment is from avoidable causes. Another study in Nigeria found that less than 5% of people with refractive errors use medicated glasses. This is due to a lack of awareness or lack of access to good healthcare and eye care.
Get Medicated Glasses As Soon As Possible
An ophthalmologist (eye doctor) prescribes medicated glasses to correct certain refractive errors. Refractive errors are abnormalities in the vision that prevent clear sight. They occur when irregularities in your eye prevent the light from focusing properly on the inner portion of the eye.
It is pretty common and can affect people mildly, moderately, or severely. Most people have a refractive error, and they don’t know it. Wearing medicated glasses designed with your refractive error in mind will help you see clearly.
These errors strain your eye and make seeing difficult, so wearing medicated glasses will immediately remove the strain caused by the error and improve your vision. They might not necessarily correct the error, but they make seeing and, by extension, your quality of life better.
Types of Refractive Errors
There are four types of refractive errors:
- Astigmatism makes objects that could be nearby or far away look distorted and blurry.
- Myopia, also known as nearsightedness or short-sightedness, makes far away objects look distorted.
- Hyperopia, also known as long-sightedness or far-sightedness, makes close objects look distorted.
- Presbyopia is an age-related change in the eyes that makes it difficult for middle-aged and elderly people to see things up close.
How Do I Know I Need Medicated Glasses?
You might need medicated glasses if you experience one or more of the following symptoms:
Frequent Headaches
Normally, having headaches does not automatically mean you need glasses. However, if the headaches are frequent and occur when you’ve been staring at screens for a while, you might definitely need them. If you’ve noticed this, getting an eye checkup is helpful.
Double Vision
‘Seeing double’ can be a sign that you have an eye disorder or some other health condition. It’s best to consult an eye doctor as soon as possible if you experience this frequently.
Distorted Vision
This means that objects appear fuzzy or blurry to you, whether far away or close by. For instance, if you find it difficult to read signs on the road or read words in books, you should see an eye doctor.
Watery Eyes
If you frequently have watery eyes without crying, that is, you might need medicated glasses. It could also be a sign of allergies, dryness of the eyes, or other health conditions. It’s better to have it checked out.
Frequent Eye Rubbing
Rubbing the eyes frequently throughout the day may mean eye fatigue. This could mean that your eyes are straining themselves to see, which could be a sign that you have a refractive error.
Night Blindness
Being unable to see well at night while driving or even going to the bathroom at night may mean that you have an issue with your eyes. This gets worse over time so it’s advisable to see an eye doctor as soon as possible.
Squinting
If you’re always squinting to see clearly or you’ve noticed that your vision gets better when you squint, you need to see an eye doctor as soon as possible.
Trouble Seeing Clearly Defined Lines
If you notice that you can’t seem to place clearly defined lines, you need to get an eye check-up.
Seeing Auras Around Objects in Bright Lights
If you see an aura, a halo, or a fuzzy area of light around objects in bright light, you need to speak to an eye doctor. It could be a sign to get an eye examination.
Do I Really Need Medicated Glasses?
If you’ve noticed a few of the symptoms mentioned above, it’s likely that you do. Wearing glasses should not be a cause of shame or stigma; instead, glass wearers are attributed with intelligence and wit. It’s best to see an eye doctor that is licensed and qualified as soon as possible.
Will Medicated Glasses Make My Vision Problems Worse?
No, that’s a myth. Glasses will help correct refractive errors to an extent, depending on their severity. However, it’s important to have frequent check-ups with your eye doctor so that your prescription can be changed if possible.
Can I wear Medicated Contact Lenses Instead?
Yes. If you don’t like glasses, medicated contact lenses can be worn. However, it’s best to get them from a licensed eye doctor and they should be used with caution.
Your eyesight is very important and can greatly affect your quality of life. You have to be very proactive about it and take steps to ensure that it is preserved for a happy life.
Share this article on your social media so that someone who needs this can see this!
Did you know that there are foods that boost your eyesight? Read more about them here.
Till my next post,
Dr. Omotola Oke
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Тhanks fօr finally writing ɑbout > Medicated Glasses?
Do Yoou NeeԀ Tһem? – HealthFacts NG Salimbet Link