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To decide whether non prescription glasses are bad for your health, you first need to consider which definition of “non prescription glasses” you are using. This particular term is used in two different ways. It can mean “fake” or fashion glasses, which do not have corrective lenses; they are similar to normal sunglasses, except they are not shaded. The second definition of “non prescription glasses” means that they are vision-correcting glasses that were acquired without a prescription.
If you are using the first definition, and want to go shopping for fashion glasses that have no corrective properties, then you will be perfectly fine, as they will not damage your eyes at all. After all, people have worn sunglasses for many years without ill effects, and of course sunglasses may also protect your eyes from damaging ultraviolet rays, depending on which ones you buy. The main danger for people who wear non prescription fashion glasses appears when vanity overrides sanity. It is ill-advised to drive at night or in dull conditions wearing dark sunglasses, and although there is no danger to your eyesight from wearing the glasses, you are at increased risk of having an accident due to decreased visibility.
A little care needs to be taken if you are going to wear the corrective type of non prescription glasses. If the wrong strength of lenses is selected, the result can be eyestrain and associated headaches, and over a period of time this can cause damage to the eyes.
If you suffer from presbyopia – a condition involving the deterioration of eyesight due to aging – you will be more likely to benefit from cheaper non prescription reading glasses. However, it is still important to go to a reputable store, such as a pharmacy, where you will be able to try a wide selection of glasses of differing strengths. Once you have found the optimal strength of lenses, you will be able to pick out a pair in a style of your choosing.
For people younger than 40 years old, and particularly in cases where blurred vision develops rapidly, or is accompanied by other symptoms such as headaches, it is vitally important to see an optician or optometrist in the first instance. There are well documented cases where people have developed vision problems, to find that the underlying cause was a more serious health condition. Eye specialists are trained to spot these problems – though in the vast majority of cases, the cause of the vision defect will be normal and benign.
Some of the possible health conditions that have been noted to affect vision include diabetes, where rapidly changing blood sugar levels can affect the quantity of fluid in the eyes, causing swelling which results in distortion of vision. Another, potentially fatal, condition is extreme hypertension which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Such an underlying problem may be spotted by an optometrist because it can lead to swelling of the optic disk. Even brain tumors have been identified by eye specialists during examinations for the cause of blurred or double vision.
So to answer the question whether non prescription glasses are bad for your health, in general they are not. If you are healthy and are positive you do not have any underlying medical conditions, they will be perfectly fine. However, all cases where there is a sudden change in your eyesight should be investigated by an expert to rule out anything more serious than a vision defect. In general, once you have been prescribed your first pair of corrective glasses, usually fairly early in life for shortsightedness, it is recommended that you see an optician for a retest every two years. If you are over 40 years old, though, and your sight has slowly deteriorated over a long period, then non prescription glasses will be fine, though there is no reason to avoid seeing a specialist if you are concerned about any other accompanying symptoms.
Jack Moorehouse writes about all subjects include related to eyes and vision, such as non prescription glasses for correcting vision in the elderly, as well as modern trends in fashion glasses and information about free eye exam coupons
The first time most of us come into contact with eyeglasses is either because we started getting headaches at college and went to see an optician; or simply because we wanted to look cool on vacation, and bought our first pair of decent sunglasses. If you have great eyesight, and do not need corrective lenses, then you may already be aware that your sunglasses fit into the category called non prescription glasses.
However, when searching online or in the stores for non prescription glasses, you need to realise that there are two, almost opposing, definitions. They are explained in the remainder of this article.
Non Prescription Fashion Glasses
These glasses – and sunglasses are an example – are worn purely for fashion, or have a purpose other than to correct vision defects. For example, to protect our eyes from bright sunlight and ultraviolet rays. Sunglasses have always had a part to play in fashion, and been worn by people who want to look cool. However, a new trend has emerged over the last few years, started by “ordinary folk” and rapidly embraced by celebrities including Cate Blanchett and Helena Christensen – the style of geek chic.
The new geek chic style has seen the re-emergence of big chunky glasses rather than discreet thin-framed or rimless ones – think Buddy Holly and you’ll be in the right ballpark. The lenses themselves are completely fake, just plastic with no corrective properties.
Despite the misgivings of “real” eyeglasses wearers, who years ago were probably teased mercilessly because of their specs, the fashion for non prescription, non correcting glasses has grown quickly. Some stores have even reported teenagers spending a lot of cash on glasses, only to pop out the lenses as they leave the store!
The reasons for wearing such fake glasses include, of course, people wanting to follow the latest trend; but there are also people wearing them because they look more intelligent, or because they allow the individual to project an alternative persona.
Cheap Non Prescription Glasses
There is a second meaning of the phrase “non prescription glasses” however. In this alternative case, they do have correcting lenses just like a standard prescription pair you might buy from your optician. These glasses are available from all sorts of outlets such as pharmacists, and are sometimes called over-the-counter (or OTC) glasses. They are usually for people over the age of forty, who suffer from presbyopia – the normal deterioration in eyesight due to aging.
Instead of having a series of eye tests, conducted by an optician or optometrist, the customer simply tries on glasses and reads a section of text to see if there is any improvement. When they find the correct strength glasses, they can then select from a range of different frame styles in-store.
This method is not used for myopia – or short sightedness – in younger people, where an appointment with a specialist is always advised. Trained optometrists can spot problems with general eye health, and it is common for them to spot underlying serious health problems unrelated to the eyes, such as diabetes, and in extreme cases brain tumors and other potentially fatal conditions. So for anything other than age-related poor eyesight, it is usually best to go and see your local optician. If you already wear prescription glasses, you should be getting your eyes re-tested every two years.
Finally, if you are searching for non prescription glasses, either to make a fashion statement or to correct your poor vision in old age, make certain that you have used the correct definition of the phrase or you might end up sorely disappointed.
Jack Moorehouse writes about all subjects include related to eyes and vision, such as non prescription glasses for correcting vision in the elderly, as well as modern trends in fashion glasses and information about free eye exam coupons
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