New glasses wearer

[trickywoo]

I've just got glasses for the first time. Its to maximise my vision for driving in poor conditions especially. I'm legal to drive without any.

Anyway I've got astigmatism which I wasn't previously aware of. 15 in one eye and 115 in the other.

My question is how long should it take to get used to wearing glasses?

My vision is pin sharp with the glasses but I feel really close to the ground, almost like I'm half my usual height. I feel like I physically grow when I take them off and my walking stride changes. I've dropped off a few kerbs walking around with glasses on although this is getting better.

I've obviously done a google and it seems to be quite common to first time glasses with astigmatism but isn't clear when or if it will fully go away. Anyone experienced similar?

My next question is if the feeling persists, I've been wearing them as much as possible since Thursday, could I get lenses with just the vision correction and none for the astigmatism or is the whole package needed for lenses to work?

Edited by trickywoo on Monday 26th February 12:48

[RedAndy]

i get that weird height change ting when i get new specs. different shaped lens means the curve is different, so it takes a while.

You'll get used to the visual effect much quicker than you get used to the physical "something on my face" feeling.

[DanL]

First wore glasses about 5 years ago. Can’t recall my prescription, but I also have astigmatism. First time wearing them as a left the optician and went up some stairs to my car in the car park was quite odd. You get used to it very quickly though.

[DKL]

It depends how high your rx is but it can take a few days to settle properly. If the vision seems sharp when you keep still the rest will come in time. Wear them all the time even if you don't plan to all the afterwards, you will adapt more quickly.
You can't not have the cylindrical component in your spectacles, well you could but it would just be blurred. Very occasionally I will reduce that component a fraction to aid adaptation but I'm doing it in the knowledge that vision will be slightly suboptimal which I don't really want to do.
So put them on and leave them on.

[dhutch]

Watching with interest as I have a similar prescription, from my later teens now in my mid 30s and have yet to make the step!

[chrisga]

Have astigmatism in my right eye. Have worn glasses for it for probably 10 years or so now. I remember trying to take the dog for a walk the first day i got them to try and get used to them. Must have tripped over about 5 times and thought nah these aren't for me. But then sat for a while wearing them and introduced them more and more when moving and now basically never take them off. I can get by but the world is a bit blurry without them unless I shut my right eye.

Reminds me I should probably go and get my eyes tested again as its been a while.

[joropug]

I have similar and found the same at 21yo - only took a few days to get used to it, and didn't drive with them until I was good.

over 10 years later, after several trials, I am now wearing contacts - I could not get on with the fortnightly ones at all my eyes were just constantly dry and aching so gave up until I persevered this time and went for dailies.

They are great and you forget they are in - no different to your eyes working as they should. I still wear glasses on days I work from home to rest my eyes.

[The Gauge]

joropug said:

I have similar and found the same at 21yo - only took a few days to get used to it, and didn't drive with them until I was good.

over 10 years later, after several trials, I am now wearing contacts - I could not get on with the fortnightly ones at all my eyes were just constantly dry and aching so gave up until I persevered this time and went for dailies.

They are great and you forget they are in - no different to your eyes working as they should. I still wear glasses on days I work from home to rest my eyes.

Do contacts just correct normal vision, or reading vision too? I wear reading glasses and sometimes wear normal vision glasses for driving. If I had contacts would they be just for normal vision and I'd still need reading glasses?

[joropug]

The Gauge said:

Do contacts just correct normal vision, or reading vision too? I wear reading glasses and sometimes wear normal vision glasses for driving. If I had contacts would they be just for normal vision and I'd still need reading glasses?

I have one prescription so not with mine. My dad has varifocals, contacts are weighted slightly so that they are up the right way - I believe on his he looks down and essentially gets reading glasses.

[agent006]

I have a similar astigmatism by the sound of it. Legal to drive without my glasses but really shouldn't. I've worn my glasses all day every day for 15 years now.
It took a while to get used to them but I have the opposite problem to you now, in that the floor is miles away when I'm walking around without my glasses on, and everything is normal with them on.