Richard asks in the forum:
I received my new glasses and they are defintiely going to take some getting used to. Even with the -3.0 on the left eye, without the astigmatism correction the right is clearer. It was more comfortable to have my regular glasses and add the +1.25 but I guess it is all a process and I will adjust to these. Should I go back and forth for a week or so until I get used to it?
I always suggest that you stick with a prescription change. Don’t go back and forth between old and new.
Why?
You want your eyes and your brain to get used to the changed focal plane. If you keep going back to the old one, you’re adding confusion that doesn’t benefit you at all. Your brain doesn’t know, which is it? This focal plane or that one? It adjusts to one, and then it needs to adjust to another. Back and forth.
Your visual cortex isn’t designed to deal with artificial focal plane changes.
It doesn’t like it.
How do I know? A decade (longer really) of guinea pig volunteers, and of those overzealous not waiting to follow my regimen, and those who prefer to take half my advice, and make up the other half on their own. Also, me starting out, years ago, experimenting on myself.
I have lots of examples of monkeying around with prescription lenses not yielding the greatest benefits.
If you change too much, too soon, or flip-flop between old and new, you end up with slower progress and weird side effect symptoms (headaches, ugh!).
Don’t introduce more focal plane change than absolutely necessary.
I always say, give it 4-6 weeks, between prescription changes. Even if you feel you’re ready to reduce sooner, just wait it out. The biology needs a minimum window to adjust, and we do best to respect it. It’s already enough of a challenge to just manage reduced prescription lenses!
If you feel anxious to do more, here’s what’ll work best:
Get outside! (video contains no helpful insight or advice)
Cheers,
– Jake
