Can Wearing Outdated Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses Harm My Eyes?

Did you know your eyeglasses and contact lenses also contain an expiration date? Wearing these outdated lenses can be dangerous to your eyes and lead to several vision issues. The optometry team at Sites Vision Clinic in Clarksville, TN, is here to tell you the dangers of wearing outdated and expired glasses or contacts.

When Are Your Prescription Lenses Out of Date?

How do you know if your eyeglasses or contacts are out of date? The simplest way to determine if your prescription lenses are outdated is to refer to the date you received them. Your glasses and contacts are valid for one to two years after you get your prescription. Lenses can become outdated because your eyes change over time, meaning you will need a new prescription to account for these changes. Contact lenses can also expire, which poses its own set of dangers.

Dangers of Outdated Glasses or Contacts

Eye strain is the most common issue when wearing outdated glasses or contacts. Since the lenses no longer correct your vision as intended, your eyes must work harder to use the lenses. Your eyes working harder can lead to headaches, blurry vision, and red or dry eyes. You may also feel fatigued. Another problem with wearing outdated lenses is that you cannot see as well as you need to. This lack of vision poses a significant threat while driving at night.

Dangers of Expired Contacts

In addition to the above risks, wearing expired contacts poses other dangers. While contact lenses themselves do not expire, the packaging containing them does. Contact lens packaging contains a sterile solution to protect your eyes from infection. However, the contacts can become contaminated if the saline solution begins deteriorating or the packaging breaks. Even a microscopic breach in the packaging can lead to bacteria and fungal spores entering the contact lenses. Wearing expired contacts can lead to significant eye infections and ulcers on the cornea.

Maintain Healthy Eyes and Vision by Visiting Your Optometrist Near You at Sites Vision Clinic

Schedule an eye exam with your optometrist near you at Sites Vision Clinic in Clarksville, TN, immediately if your eyeglasses or contact lenses are causing blurry vision and other eye discomforts. Our optometry team can update your prescription and ensure your eyes remain healthy and protected, so call us at (931) 647-5237 to schedule an appointment today.