Question:
Why shouldn’t I wear someone else’s glasses if I can see clearly out of them?
Answer:
Eyeglasses prescription is highly individualized and unique, although in some rare instances, one’s prescription can identically match another’s. If the differences are minimal, one can accommodate through the incorrect prescription and gain a subjective perception of clarity.
However, this can eventually lead to asthenoptic symptoms including visual fatigue, eyestrain, tearing and headache depending on the length of time other’s prescription is worn. It can also lead to unnecessary overcorrection of one’s prescription once the brain becomes adjusted to other’s eyeglasses prescription.
The recommended prescription is the least amount of prescription that achieves the maximum clarity of vision in order to provide the visual comfort. Without a proper determination of the individual’s correct prescription through a comprehensive eye examination, a subjective perception of clarity through someone else’s glasses does not ascertain the individual’s own optimal preservation of vision and ocular health.
-Dr. Grace Kim
Grace M. Kim, O.D.
Clinical Advisor Panel Chair for America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses
Dr. Kim received her Doctorate from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Prior to entering optometry school, she worked as a research biologist at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. She was involved in electron microscopy, ultramicrotomy and immunocytochemistry, in which fields she received acknowledgements and co-authored presentations, abstracts, and articles which were published in the Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology. Following graduation, Dr. Kim joined National Vision’s America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses. Since 2007, Dr. Kim served as Chairperson on Clinical Advisory Panel. She is also a Doctor Mentor in which position she trains newly hired doctors and assist in conducting performance reviews on the Peer Review Committee.