Does Eyesight Get Worse Without Glasses? - Refine Optometry

Let’s start with what everyone’s really asking:
"If I don’t wear my glasses... will my eyes get weaker?"

We hear this all the time at Refine Optometry in Palo Alto — especially from people who’ve just gotten a new prescription and aren’t sure if they want to wear glasses all the time.

So let’s clear things up.
We’re going to walk you through this — simply, honestly, and without the medical jargon. By the end, you’ll know exactly when not wearing your glasses makes things worse, and when it doesn’t.

First, Let's Talk About What Glasses Actually Do

This might sound obvious, but let’s break it down — because understanding this will make the rest super clear.

Glasses don’t “fix” your eyes permanently.
They don’t make your eyes stronger or weaker.
They just help you see clearly by bending light so it lands in the right place on your retina.

Think of glasses like a phone camera lens — they correct how light enters, so the image is focused. Your eyes are the camera. The glasses are just the lens you snap on the front.

So... Can Not Wearing Glasses Make Your Eyesight Worse?

The honest answer?

It depends.

Let’s walk through the different cases because the truth changes based on what kind of vision problem you have.

👓 If You’re Nearsighted (Myopia):

This is where you see up close fine, but distance is blurry.

If you don’t wear your glasses...

Your vision will still be blurry at a distance.
You won’t damage your eyes, but...
You might strain them by squinting or trying too hard to focus.
And over time, your myopia might continue to get worse naturally — but that’s not because you skipped glasses, it’s just how myopia progresses in some people.

⚠️ Myth Busted:

Not wearing glasses doesn’t make your eyes lazy or weak.
Myopia tends to increase on its own, especially during childhood and teen years.

📖 If You’re Farsighted (Hyperopia):

You can see far away, but close-up tasks like reading or working on a screen are tough.

If you don’t wear your glasses...

You may end up straining your eyes constantly, especially while reading.
That can cause headaches, fatigue, and blurred vision.
In kids, untreated farsightedness can lead to amblyopia (a.k.a. "lazy eye").

So yes — in kids especially, not wearing glasses can worsen eye development.

🧠 If You Have Astigmatism:

Your vision is blurry at all distances because your eye shape bends light unevenly.

Without glasses:

You’ll probably see distorted or stretched images.
You might get eye strain or headaches from trying to compensate.
But again, not wearing glasses doesn’t physically worsen the eye. It just means you’re working harder than you should.

So Why Do People Say Their Eyes Got Worse After Wearing Glasses?

We hear this all the time:

“Ever since I started wearing glasses, I feel like I can’t see without them anymore.”

And that’s actually kind of true — but it’s not because glasses made your eyes worse.
It’s just that you finally saw how clear things could be — and now anything blurry feels unbearable.

Glasses don’t make your eyes dependent.
They just make your brain prefer clarity — and that’s a good thing.

When NOT Wearing Glasses Can Be a Problem

Let’s be real — sometimes not wearing glasses does more harm than good.
Here are a few examples:

👶 For Kids:

If a child needs glasses and doesn’t wear them — especially under age 8 — it can impact how their visual system develops.

This can lead to:

Lazy eye (amblyopia)
Eye teaming issues
Learning problems at school

Glasses during childhood can actually help train the eyes to work properly — so skipping them isn’t worth the risk.

💻 For Adults Working on Screens All Day:

Even mild vision issues can cause major discomfort if you’re staring at a screen for hours.

Not wearing your glasses here can lead to:

Digital eye strain
Headaches
Blurred near vision
Neck and posture pain (from leaning forward to see)

If you’ve ever felt drained after Zoom calls or reading spreadsheets — your glasses might be the missing fix.

How About Reading Glasses? Will My Eyes Get Worse If I Don’t Use Them?

If you’re over 40, and struggling to read small print, you may have presbyopia — that’s when the lens in your eye naturally loses flexibility with age.

Reading glasses help with that.

Now here’s the key part:
Not wearing reading glasses won’t make your presbyopia worse.
But... you’ll be squinting, straining, and getting headaches if you don’t wear them when you need them.

It’s kind of like using a flashlight in a dark room — you don’t ruin the room by not using it, but you’ll bump into a lot more stuff.

Bottom Line: Glasses Don’t Make Eyes Worse — But Ignoring Them Can Make You Feel Worse

Let’s put it all together:

Situation	Will skipping glasses make vision worse?	Notes
Nearsighted (Myopia)	❌ Not directly	But you’ll be squinting + uncomfortable
Farsighted (Hyperopia)	✅ In kids	Can affect eye development
Astigmatism	❌ No damage	But you’ll see blurry + strain
Presbyopia (reading glasses)	❌ Not worse	Just harder to focus up close

So... Should You Wear Your Glasses All the Time?

Here’s the truth:

If your doctor says full-time — wear them full-time
If they’re just for reading or driving — use them when needed
If you’re not sure? Ask.

At Refine Optometry, we customize every recommendation to you.
Your eyes. Your job. Your lifestyle.

Got Questions? We’ve Got You.

Still wondering if skipping glasses is okay for your eyes? Or want to check if your prescription has changed?

📍 Come visit us at Refine Optometry, Palo Alto Optometry (Santa Clara County).
We offer personalized eye exams, honest answers, and glasses that fit your life — not just your face.📞 Book Your Eye Exam near Palo Alto Today

Refine Optometry – Dr. Joy Lam
📍 460 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
☎️ (650) 327-2020
🌐 refineoptometry.com
📧 info@refineoptometry.com

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