Do I need glasses? Common signs and symptoms

Published May 2024 | 5 min read
Expert contributor Yu-Yun Wang, Managing Optometrist at HCF Eyecare
Words by Michelle Herbison

Squinting? Prone to headaches? Trouble focusing? These are all signs you could be part of a growing majority of Aussies who need glasses.  

It's estimated that over 13 million Aussies have one or more chronic eye conditions, according to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), and Optometry Australia is concerned at the increasing rate of eye issues. 
  
In the aftermath of the pandemic lockdowns, which saw significant changes in the way people lived and worked, 97% of Aussies reported concerns with their eyesight. Too many hours spent indoors and on screens continues to be a concerning trend, especially for office workers and children, explains Yu-Yun Wang, Managing Optometrist at HCF Eyecare. 
 
“It’s not necessarily devices themselves that are causing an increase in short-sightedness, but it’s being stuck inside four walls and not allowing the eyes to have enough outdoor exposure,” he explains.  
 
Australia’s ageing population is the other trend keeping optometrists busy, he adds. “Pretty much everyone will [end up needing] reading glasses of some sort.”

How to know if you need glasses  

Diminishing eyesight can creep up on you, so Yu-Yun says it’s worth getting checked if you have one or more of the following signs. 

• Blurriness – either near, far or both.   
• Eye strain – or having tired eyes at the end of the day.  
• Headaches – especially around the eye area.  
• Squinting – when it seems to make things clearer. 
• Holding objects further away to focus – especially if you’re over 40. 
• Sensitivity to glare at night – even if you haven’t noticed issues during the day.
• Double vision – seeing two of everything, however slight. 
• Difficulty readjusting focus – when switching between near and far. 

“Even if just one of these issues stands out, it’s helpful to have an eye test and see if prescription glasses can help,” Yu-Yun advises.  

Presbyopia: signs you need glasses for reading

Yu-Yun describes presbyopia – or age-related long-sightedness – as a very common reason for needing glasses, because it’s “just a natural part of ageing”. The tell-tale sign is when you start holding books or food packages further away to gain focus.

“Usually by your mid-40s, the lens in your eyes start to lose elasticity, making it harder for you to focus close up. It keeps progressing until you’re 60 or so, then it flattens off,” he explains.

If you’re over 40 and have never worn glasses, chances are you’ll be in the market for reading glasses sometime soon. However, if you’re short-sighted, you may find it more comfortable to take your glasses off to read.

Myopia: signs you need glasses for short-sightedness

Myopia, or short-sightedness, which affects more than 7.1 million Aussies, tends to progress primarily during adolescence and then slows or stabilises in our early 20s.

“For most people, vision doesn’t get a lot worse through our 20s, 30s and early 40s,” explains Yu-Yun.

While genetics plays a part in the development of myopia (a child will have a higher risk if one or both parents are short-sighted), environmental factors can also be a factor – for example, if children spend a lot of time on close-up activities such as reading and drawing without also spending time outdoors.

Teachers will often notice if a child is asking friends what’s on the board at school, but sometimes kids don’t realise what they’re missing until they have an eye test.

Usually glasses are the answer, but myopia control in children is a growing area of research, offering options like atropine eye drops, soft and hard contact lenses and special types of myopia control spectacle lenses.

Hyperopia: signs you need glasses for long-sightedness

Hyperopia – or long-sightedness – often causes symptoms like eye strain and headaches in adults, or difficulty focusing on objects close up.

“People can generally see well in the distance, but they may encounter more difficulty or blur with close up,” says Yu-Yun. Because our eyes continue to grow and change over time, you could be diagnosed with hyperopia at any age, he adds.

“Most children are slightly long-sighted because their eyes are still growing. Then, as our eyes grow, we become less long-sighted.”

Astigmatism: signs you need glasses for clarity

If you’re experiencing softness of vision, difficulty with night-time vision or glare while driving, astigmatism may be at play, either on its own or in combination with other eye issues.

“This is the uneven curvature of the front of the eyes, like a rugby ball instead of a soccer ball,” explains Yu-Yun. This means that light entering your eye focuses at two places (rather than one).

How to keep your eyes healthy

According to Yu-Yun, there are some easy-to-manage ways we can look after our eyes as we age. First, if you spend a lot of time in front of a screen, he recommends the 20-20-20 rule to maintain your 20:20 vision and visual comfort. “Every 20 minutes, have a 20-second break and look 20 feet away.”

Another way to look after your eyes, he adds, is to spend some time outside. Research shows that children who spend time outdoors have reduced risk of developing myopia in the future. However, it's important to not forget a hat, use appropriate sunglasses and avoid times of the day when the UV is at its highest.

When it comes to avoiding some of the other more serious eye conditions that can lead to blindness or low vision, from age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts to diabetic retinopathy and stroke, it’s all about having good general health habits, says Yu-Yun.

This includes regular routine eye examinations, quality sleep, the recommended amount of exercise and a healthy diet rich in dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, corn and peas. Plus, if you’re diabetic, your essential regular eye check will include an extra dilation test to look at the back of the eyes in more detail.

When to see an optometrist

If you’re one of the 26% of Aussies who have not had an eye examination in the past two years (or one of the 13% who have never done so), don’t hesitate.

How long does an eye test take? In about 30 minutes, your optometrist will take you through a series of tests and discuss the various treatment options available, including glasses.

“Nowadays with high visual demands, if you’re doing a lot of computer work, fine detail work or driving, glasses will make a big difference,” says Yu-Yun.

“At HCF Eyecare, we’re focused on providing professional patient eye care and quality eye wear. Plus, we offer free retinal imaging and 3D optical coherence tomography scans for our members.”

Book an eye test

If you're Sydney-based, our network of HCF Eyecare Centres gives members easy access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. Don’t live near one? You could still get 100% back^* on popular optical products through our extensive No-Gap network.