Vision Fluctuations: When to Get Your Eyes Tested

Daily Vision Fluctuations

Since our eyes are essentially an extension of our brain, our vision naturally fluctuates throughout the day.

Photo by Mikhail Nilov

Typically, vision is sharper in the morning when we are relaxed and tends to decline in the evening when we are tired. This means the time you choose for your eye exam can affect the results. However, keep in mind that when the doctor measures your eyesight, they provide a glasses prescription that does not change throughout the day. So, if you take the exam while tired or stressed, you might end up with glasses that are too strong.

How Glasses Affect Your Vision

Once you start wearing glasses, no matter how tired or relaxed you feel, your eyes must always adjust to the light coming through the lenses. At first, this adjustment may tire your brain, but once you get used to the glasses, you won't be able to adjust your vision to untreated light anymore. This becomes your new baseline level of vision.

The Balanced Approach to Wearing Glasses

You might wonder what to do if you need clear vision but glasses are your only option. The best advice is to wear glasses when necessary (e.g., driving, working outdoors at night), but avoid wearing them continuously. This way, you give your eyes a chance to maintain their natural ability to process light. Your eyes won’t develop a habit of adjusting to the fixed prescription of the glasses, and you allow your brain to fluctuate perception toward your natural vision.