In order to fill a glasses prescription, you will need to make sure that your prescription is up to date and not expired. To ensure that your new glasses will correct your vision as best as possible, it’s best to see your eye doctor for a new prescription if your previous one is expired.
Keep reading to learn more about if you need to have an eye exam to get glasses and the types of eye exams available!
Reason to Have an Eye Exam to Get Glasses
In most cases, it is best to visit your eye doctor for a new prescription prior to getting new glasses. This is especially true if it’s been over a year since your last eye exam.
Here are some other reasons why it may be important for you to have an eye exam to get a new glasses prescription:
Your Vision Changes with Time
Your eyes tend to change as you age. When that’s the case, a prescription from a couple of years ago can worsen your vision problem.
By visiting your eye doctor for an eye exam, you can ensure that your new glasses will correct your vision as best as possible. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how much a fresh, new prescription can significantly improve the quality of your vision.
Moreover, you’ll avoid vision problems that come with out-of-date prescriptions, like eyestrain, headaches, and eye fatigue.
Your Prescription Has Expired
Your glasses may break, or you might wish to upgrade your style. Although ordering them from the internet with an old prescription can seem like a good idea, it isn’t.
You shouldn’t buy new glasses with an expired prescription. Glasses prescriptions usually last for one or two years in most states.
However, it can also have a shorter expiration date if there’s a risk of your vision changing quickly, as with certain eye conditions like keratoconus.
When You Don’t Need an Eye Exam
There are instances where you don’t need an eye examination to purchase new glasses. For example, when buying non-prescription glasses.
Glasses that are made with plain glass don’t offer any visual correction or magnification. When wearing them, you’ll be looking through glass that doesn’t refract light in any way.
So they’re perfectly safe to wear. They’re often worn as a fashion statement to add style to your wardrobe.
Vision Tests for Eyeglasses
Your prescription is mainly measured through a refraction test. The test is performed by your eye care professional and is one of the best ways to determine an accurate glasses prescription.
To determine your actual prescription, your eye doctor will use an instrument called a phoropter to test your vision through various lenses.
They will ask you questions with each new lens to determine which lens enables you to see more clearly.
As you answer questions, your eye doctor will refine the lens power until you reach the best prescription.
Get Your Prescription Updated at VisionFirst
Whether you want a new glasses makeover or broke your old glasses and need another pair, it’s important to get an eye exam at VisionFirst Eye Center before heading to your optical shop or favorite online glasses retailer. An eye exam with their experienced ophthalmic technicians can detect any changes in your eyesight and ensure you see your absolute best.
Has your prescription expired? Schedule your eye exam at VisionFirst Eye Center in Birmingham, AL, today to have it updated!
