The Disadvantages of Glasses

Not everyone has the benefit of perfect 20/20 vision, and living with the effects of imperfect eyesight often means wearing glasses. They help correct common eye conditions, such as farsightedness and nearsightedness, and can improve overall quality of life. Wearing glasses, however, can also have a few downsides.

Can Worsen Eyesight Problems

• While nearsightedness can affect all ages, the use of prescription lenses help correct the problem. This typically involves wearing minus lenses, which make objects appear closer and bring them into focus. However, wearing them constantly can result in the focusing muscle of the eye becoming locked in a state of near focus, which can exacerbate nearsightedness. Glasses can therefore potentially speed up the deterioration of vision, requiring a cycle of increasingly stronger lenses to correct the problem.

Obstruct View

• Glasses can obstruct the range of vision in a number of ways, which can pose a danger in situations such as crossing a road. Lenses can become obscured in bad weather, with moisture reducing visibility. In colder climates, lenses can fog when moving between different temperatures, such as from a warm home to the cold outdoors.

Comfort

• When worn for long periods, bridge and nose pads of glasses -- especially an ill-fitting pair -- can pinch the nose. This pinching can cause irritation and pain, making glasses uncomfortable to wear.

Teasing

• Youngsters typically worry about fitting in with peer groups, which can make them shy away from wearing glasses. Kids wearing spectacles can suffer teasing whether in jest or seriousness, and this can affect self-confidence. Most adults required to wear glasses when growing up will likely remember some teasing.

Limits Activity

• A number of activities can prove more awkward when wearing glasses, including exercise and sports. Physical activity can be more difficult in glasses, and wearing them can be dangerous for contact sports, both in terms of damage to the glasses and potential injury to the eyes if glasses break. Other activities, such as riding roller coasters or water slides, can involve the annoyance of removing glasses and trying to keep them safe.

Limits Peripheral Vision

• While glasses provide a clear forward view, they can limit peripheral vision. While those without glasses can simply move their eyes to the side to get a view, spectacle wearers will more likely have to move their whole head to point the glasses toward the object of view.