Glasses should typically last between one to three years; however, the average lifespan of a pair of glasses can vary depending on the frame quality and how well you take care of them.
No, you cannot use an expired eyeglass prescription to buy new glasses. The reason for this is simple: our eyes change as we age, and a prescription from several years ago may no longer guarantee clear vision. You may not realize how much your vision has deteriorated since your last eye exam.
The simple answer is no. Glasses prescriptions have expiration dates because your eyes change over time, causing your current glasses prescription to be inaccurate. Glasses made with out-of-date prescriptions may cause headaches, eye strain, and blurry vision, resulting in serious accidents.
Wearing expired contacts is one of the leading causes of eye infections in the U.S. Risks of wearing contact lenses past their expiration date include inflammation and reddening of the eye, moderate to severe pain, and partial or total loss of vision.
Lens or Frame Damage
Most frames last about 2 years. But, with appropriate care, frames made with sturdier or more durable materials can last up to 5 years.
Most eye doctors recommend you replace your glasses every two to three years while also scheduling a yearly annual check-up to ensure your prescription is working as intended and no changes are needed.
If you don't wear your glasses, you'll most likely struggle with eyestrain. Eyestrain is the result of your eyes working overtime to read or focus. The biggest symptoms of eyestrain are chronic headaches, double vision, blurry vision and of course tired eyes.
Even though your vision may seem perfect with your old pair of eyeglasses, an outdated prescription can cause eye strain, which in turn will lead to headaches. Other signs of eye strain include: Difficulty focusing. Sore or irritated eyes.
The Bottom Line
However, using an expired optical prescription could mean that your vision through your new glasses isn't at its optimal. Doing so, you may experience blurriness and eye strain, which could worsen your vision symptoms like headaches.
Fortunately, you can typically continue to use your existing frames when you get new lenses, provided that the frames are in good condition and aren't too complicated in shape. If they're damaged or worn out, then you'll need to get a new pair of frames along with the new lenses.
You can stop wearing your glasses or contact lenses for many eye conditions without risking your eye health. You may experience uncomfortable symptoms, but it won't damage your eyes. For example, when patients with hyperopia stop wearing their glasses, they won't see close distances clearly.
Why is that? Answer: Some call this "second sight" which has a simple physiological explanation. As the lens of the eye hardens as we age (the predecessor of frank cataracts) it changes the way light is "bent" as it enters the eye much the way different prescriptions in a pair of glasses do.
If you're an adult who needs glasses due to blurred vision, not wearing glasses doesn't make your eyes worse, but it makes your eyes work harder. Corrective glasses allow your eyes to work less hard which reduces eye strain and all the other unpleasant effects of not wearing your glasses (when you need them).
So how often should you replace your prescription glasses? Optometrists recommend replacing your glasses everyone one to three years. This can be shorter depending on the condition of your lenses or any changes in prescription.
Blurry Vision
Difficulty focusing on blurred objects—far away or up close—may mean you need glasses. If you find it difficult to read street signs while driving or read text in books, you may benefit from eyeglasses or contacts.
The shelf life of plastic frames is about five years. Another weakness is that the nose piece doesn't grip quite as well as the nose pads on metal frames. Plastic also deforms when heated, so keep them out of your car when it's parked in the sun. Finally, plastic frames lose their adjustment more quickly than metal.
With age, the lenses of the eyes become less flexible and make it difficult to focus on close objects, a condition called presbyopia. That's why nearly everyone needs reading glasses as they reach their mid-40s or 50s. A few types of eye surgeries can correct this condition.
Practiced faithfully, eye exercises may actually help delay the need for glasses or contacts in some people. But you don't need to buy a special program of exercises or follow prescribed visual gymnastics to accomplish these things.
How can you improve your vision to 20/20? In 2020 the American Optometric Association declared it was the “Year of the Eye Exam.” The simple answer is that eyeglasses, contact lenses or laser eye surgery can correct your vision to 20/20.
At Lensology, we come in when you need to replace your lenses but want to keep your Specsavers frames that you love or have found a new frame without the lenses you need in them. Our expert team is on hand to reglaze your Specsavers frame at a fraction of the cost that you would pay at Specsavers.
People with blurry vision often squint to bring objects into focus. This leads to headaches. Getting an updated prescription will fix this problem. Failing to update the prescription could lead to serious headaches and other problems, such as issues when driving.
Replacing the lenses instead of getting new frames and lenses is usually cheaper.