Ophthalmologists explain what actually makes glasses go up

Many people think that not using glasses recommended by doctors leads to an increase in the degree. This idea is quite common and usually occurs when vision deteriorates or there is a need to change lenses.

In reality, not wearing glasses does not increase your degree. Vision changes are due to the natural functioning of the eyes, age and habits. Glasses serve to correct the problem and facilitate vision, but do not interfere with the increase in degree.

“The increase in degree occurs due to factors specific to the eye. In childhood, myopia can progress because the eye continues to grow, while in adulthood natural changes appear, such as difficulty seeing up close after 40 years,” explains ophthalmologist Emerson Castro, from the Sírio-Libanês Hospital, in São Paulo.

Why does the diploma change throughout life?

The prescription for glasses usually changes with age due to natural changes. In childhood and adolescence, the eyes continue to grow, just like the rest of the body. It is therefore more common for the degree to increase during this period, particularly in cases of myopia.

As adults, the ability to see at a distance tends to become more stable. The most common change occurs after age 40, when many people begin to have difficulty seeing up close. This happens because over time, the eyes lose the ability to focus on nearby objects, which is part of the natural aging of vision.

Habits that contribute to increasing the degree

Although the degree increases naturally, certain habits can intensify this process, especially in children and adolescents. Besides age and genetics, spending a lot of time on activities that require close vision, such as using screens and reading, contributes to the progression of myopia.

The advice recommended by doctors is to take regular breaks, look into the distance for a few seconds and encourage outdoor activities. Sun exposure also contributes to the development of healthy vision during childhood.

“Excessive use of screens and limited exposure to outdoor environments are associated with the progression of myopia in children. Therefore, in addition to visual correction, daily habits play an important role in eye health,” advises ophthalmologist Stefânia Diniz, member of the Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology (CBO).

Main symptoms of not wearing glasses when indicated

Failure to use the recommended glasses may result in increased vision strain on the eyes. Work often causes visual fatigue, a feeling of heaviness in the eyes and headaches, especially in the forehead and temples.

Blurred or blurred vision, difficulty focusing, and the need to squint to see better, both up close and far away, may also occur. Burning, irritation, redness and tearing are also some of the most common complaints.

In some cases, dizziness and difficulty maintaining attention to visual activities appear for longer. These signs do not mean that the degree is increasing, but they indicate that wearing glasses is necessary to reduce eye fatigue and improve the quality of vision.

Incorrectly prescribed glasses do not worsen vision

In addition to the belief that not wearing glasses increases your prescription, it is also common to hear that wearing glasses with the wrong prescription can harm your vision. This idea is also a myth, because lenses do not change the structure of the eyes and do not cause an increase in degree.

What can happen when the degree is not correct is the appearance of discomfort. Visual fatigue, headaches, burning eyes and blurred vision are symptoms that indicate the need to adjust the correction, not that the glasses are causing damage to the eyes.