# How long does it take to get used to new glasses?

> Most people get used to new glasses within two or three days, and almost everyone within two weeks. Multifocals and big prescription changes take longest. Mild headaches, slight dizziness and a feeling that the floor is curved are normal at first. If things are still not right after two weeks, go back to your optometrist.

Source: https://seebetter.co.za/blog/getting-used-to-new-glasses/
Publisher: See Better (https://seebetter.co.za/)
Section: Glasses and lenses
Published: 2026-10-11
Last updated: 2026-10-11

## Key points

- Two or three days is typical. Two weeks is the outer limit.
- Wear the new pair all day and do not switch back to your old glasses.
- With multifocals, point your nose at what you want to see.
- Blur in one eye, double vision or strong dizziness means have them checked.

## Why new glasses feel strange

Your brain has spent months or years working with the picture your old glasses, or no glasses, gave it. New lenses change that picture: things may look sharper, slightly larger or smaller, or slightly shifted. Your eyes and brain need a short time to recalibrate. The glasses are not harming your eyes, and the odd feeling is a sign that something has changed, not that something is wrong.

## What is normal in the first few days

- a mild headache or tired eyes by the evening
- slight dizziness, or feeling a little off-balance when you move your head
- a "fishbowl" effect, where the edges of your view seem to bend
- floors, steps or door frames that look tilted or curved
- objects that seem closer, further, bigger or smaller than they should
- being very aware of the frame in your side vision

These effects are strongest when the prescription has changed a lot, when astigmatism has been corrected for the first time, when you have moved to a different lens type, or when the new frame is a very different size or shape from the old one.

## How long each type usually takes

| Change | Typical adjustment time |
| --- | --- |
| Small change to a single vision prescription | A day or two |
| Large change, or first-ever glasses | Up to a week |
| New astigmatism correction | A few days to a week |
| First bifocals | A few days to a week |
| First multifocals | A few days to two weeks |

## Tips that speed things up

1. **Put them on first thing in the morning.** Your eyes are fresh and you start the day adapted to the new lenses.
2. **Wear them all day.** The more consistently you wear them, the faster your brain adjusts.
3. **Do not swap back to your old pair.** Switching resets the process each time.
4. **Start somewhere familiar.** Walk around at home before you tackle stairs, busy roads or a long drive.
5. **Keep them clean and straight.** Smudges and a skew frame make adapting harder. See [how to clean your glasses](https://seebetter.co.za/blog/how-to-clean-your-glasses/).
6. **Take a short break if you feel unwell.** Ten minutes without them is fine. Then put them back on.

## Extra tips for multifocals

Multifocal lenses have distance vision at the top, computer distance in the middle and reading at the bottom, so there is a technique to using them:

- **Point your nose at what you want to see.** Turn your head, not only your eyes, because the sides of the lower lens are softer.
- **Look straight ahead for distance** and lower your eyes, not your head, to read.
- **For a screen,** raise your chin slightly until the text sharpens, or lower the monitor.
- **On stairs,** tuck your chin in so you look through the top of the lens at the steps.
- **When you read in bed or lie on the couch,** you may need to adjust how you hold the book, because the reading zone is at the bottom.

If multifocals are new to you, [single vision, bifocal and multifocal lenses compared](https://seebetter.co.za/blog/single-vision-vs-bifocal-vs-multifocal-lenses/) explains how the zones are laid out.

## When to go back to your optometrist

Give it two weeks of full-time wear. Go back sooner if you have:

- vision that is clearly blurry in one eye or at one distance
- double vision
- strong dizziness or nausea
- headaches that are getting worse instead of better
- a frame that slips, pinches or sits skew

There are a few possible causes, and all of them can be fixed. The frame may need adjusting so that the lenses sit at the right height and angle. The measurements used to position the lenses may be slightly out. Or the prescription itself may need a second look. Do not put up with glasses that never feel right, and do not go back to an old pair without telling anyone. All See Better glasses carry a 1-year warranty.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is it normal to get headaches from new glasses?

Yes, for the first few days. A mild headache is a common part of adjusting, especially after a big prescription change. It should fade within a week. If it is getting worse, or has not gone after two weeks, have the glasses checked.

### Why do new glasses make me dizzy?

New lenses change how large things look and where they seem to be, which briefly confuses your sense of balance. This is most noticeable with astigmatism corrections and multifocals, and it usually passes within days.

### Can a wrong prescription damage my eyes?

In adults, no. A wrong prescription can cause blur, eye strain and headaches, but it does not damage the eyes. In young children the correct prescription matters more, because their vision is still developing.

### How do I know if my new glasses are wrong?

Give them two weeks of all-day wear. If one eye is noticeably blurrier than the other, if you see double, or if you still feel uncomfortable after that time, the glasses need to be checked. Take them back to whoever supplied them.

## About See Better

See Better is a mobile optometry practice in Gauteng, South Africa. A qualified, HPCSA-registered optometrist travels to the client's home, workplace, school or event, so there is no practice to visit.

- Areas served: Johannesburg, Pretoria (Tshwane), Ekurhuleni (East Rand), the West Rand and the Vaal.
- Eye test at home: R450 (cash price).
- Eye test + frame + single vision lenses + tint: R1199 (cash price).
- Eye test + frame + bifocal lenses + tint: R1699 (cash price).
- Eye test + frame + multifocal lenses + tint: R2099 (cash price).
- All glasses carry a 1-year warranty.
- We are registered with most medical aids and charge at medical aid tariffs.
- Book on WhatsApp: +27 66 181 8667 (https://wa.me/27661818667)
- Email: info@seebetter.co.za
- Website: https://seebetter.co.za/