Your glasses prescription affects more than how clearly you see. It influences eye comfort, reading endurance, headache frequency, and how easily you handle screen time. Prescription changes often happen gradually enough that you don't notice them — until you finally update your lenses and realize how much you'd been straining. Here's how to tell when it's time, and what actually happens at an exam.

Signs your prescription needs to be updated

Vision changes usually creep in slowly, which is why people often go years longer than they should before updating. The most common signs:

Blurry vision at distance, near, or both — even if it's intermittent
Frequent squinting at street signs, screens, or fine print
Eye strain or tired eyes by mid-afternoon
Headaches after reading or screen work — especially around the temples or behind the eyes
Difficulty driving at night, glare from headlights, or trouble seeing road signs
Holding books or your phone closer or farther than you used to
Feeling like one eye sees better than the other
Increased reliance on light for reading or fine tasks

Any one of these on its own isn't conclusive, but two or three together usually means it's time. The fix is rarely dramatic — but the difference in daily comfort can be significant.

How often should you update your glasses?

For most adults, a comprehensive eye exam every 1 to 2 years is sufficient. Annual exams are recommended if you:

Wear glasses or contacts daily
Are over age 60
Have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of eye disease
Notice any of the symptoms above
Have a strong prescription (high myopia, high hyperopia, or high astigmatism)

Even if your vision feels stable, an annual exam catches subtle changes early and screens for eye health conditions that develop silently — glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy. More on why regular exams matter even with clear vision →

Kids and prescription changes

Children's vision can change quickly as their eyes grow, sometimes shifting noticeably year over year. Signs a child may need an updated prescription include trouble seeing the board at school, losing their place while reading, avoiding homework or reading, frequent headaches, sitting too close to the TV or screen, or rubbing their eyes a lot.

Children often don't realize their vision isn't clear — they think the world looks the way they see it. Regular pediatric eye exams catch what kids can't articulate. For children with rapidly progressing nearsightedness, we also offer specialized myopia control programs that go beyond updating the prescription and actually slow how fast it gets worse.

Screen time and the modern prescription

If you spend 6+ hours a day on screens, your eyes are working harder than they used to — and a slightly outdated prescription causes more strain in that context than it would have a generation ago. Many patients who report screen-related fatigue, headaches, or dry eye are partially solving the problem when they update their lenses, especially when they add anti-reflective coating or specific computer-distance lens designs.

Worth knowing: 20/20 distance vision doesn't mean your near or intermediate prescription is current. A separate evaluation of near work is part of any comprehensive exam — and the upgrade to lenses optimized for screen distance is one of the most underused options patients have available.

When new glasses aren't the answer

Sometimes blurry vision isn't a prescription change. It could be:

Dry eye disease — fluctuating vision throughout the day, often worse in the evening
Cataracts — gradual hazing, glare at night, faded colors
Diabetic blood sugar swings — temporarily shifting vision day to day
Medication side effects — some medications cause temporary refractive shifts
Early eye disease — silent until significant damage is done

That's why a comprehensive exam — not just a refraction — is what's needed when vision changes. Updating the prescription without ruling out underlying causes can mask something more important.

What to expect at the exam

A comprehensive eye exam at Ozark Eye takes 45 to 60 minutes and includes full vision testing, refraction to determine the current prescription, intraocular pressure check, slit-lamp evaluation of the front of the eye, and a look at the retina and optic nerve. If you need updated glasses, you'll leave with the prescription on the spot and can either browse the in-office optical or take it elsewhere — your choice.

Bring your current glasses or contacts so we can compare to what's working and improve what isn't. Insurance card, photo ID, and a list of medications are also helpful.

When should you update your glasses prescription?