How Long Do Eye Prescriptions Stay Valid ?

Have you ever caught yourself squinting at your laptop, thinking, "It’s probably nothing, I’ll book an eye test later"? You're not alone. Many people tend to not pay that much heed to their eye test dates and keep pushing and postponing them.

Well, here is why you shouldn’t: like any other products, your glasses have an expiration date too. Wearing these “expired” glasses, without updating the lenses will further strain your eyes and damage them in the long run. It's a commonly overlooked and trivialized problem which is why it is crucial to understand why prescriptions expire, how long are eye prescriptions good for, and how to go about it.

Why Do Prescriptions Have Expiration Dates?

It may come as a shocker, but prescription expiration dates are more than just a recommendation. They should be taken seriously. .A good prerequisite to the “how long do eye prescriptions last” question is why they expire in the first place. Your eyes can change over time, thus making your current prescription inaccurate and causing considerable strain on your eyes. Even if you feel like your prescription hasn’t changed, , an eye exam has the capability of detecting other eye issues like glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, or macular degeneration.  We recently had a patient that we helped catch a brain tumor.  Her vision changes were so drastic that something else had to be going on.

Where To Find Your Glasses Prescription Expiration Date

Just like other medicines, glasses have their expiration date mentioned clearly. In this case, the copy of your eye test given by the doctor generally has all the information that you’ll need to get a new pair made. This includes your new prescription, the date of the exam as well as the expiration date, so you know when to follow up.

Make it a point to keep this slip safe. Go ahead and take a photo of it and keep it in your phone, just in case. You can come back to the marked area and revisit it whenever required, be it near or on the date written.

How Long Do Glasses Prescriptions Last?

Typically, the doctor performing the examination will set the expiration date.  Typically, most prescriptions expire after one or two years.  It is rare to see prescriptions expire shorter or longer than this timeframe.

Keep in mind, though, that the lifespan of your eye prescription isn’t set in stone—it can vary depending on a few key factors, such as:

 

• Where you live: A majority of states in the US mention that prescriptions must last for two years. However, some states have eyeglass prescriptions that are valid for one year, while others may not have any clear prescription expiration laws.
• Health Conditions: Certain health conditions like AMD, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma may impact how quickly your prescription changes. This may be one factor that may require you to get eye exams more frequently.
• Age: Lastly, your age plays a bigger role than you think. Protein breakdowns, lifestyle changes, reduction in pupil size, dry eyes - all of these factors are sometimes inevitable as you age. So, it may affect your prescription duration too.

 

How Does Age Affect When You Should Get an Eye Exam

Here’s the thing— how often you need an eye exam depends a lot on your age. Optometry guidelines have specific recommendations based on age groups, and here’s a look into them:

 

• Infants typically have their first eye test at six months or older
• Preschoolers generally get it done between ages 3 and 5.
• School-aged children, annually from ages 6 to 17. 
• Adults from the age of 18 to 64 should get yearly exams.
• And finally, adults over 65 should have yearly exams to check for age-related conditions such as presbyopia and glaucoma.

 

What Happens When You Use Outdated Glasses?

Still not convinced and thinking of skipping out on the eye exam? If you are thinking of just going ahead with the old eyewear, do not. Now, day-old prescription glasses won’t lead to some catastrophe. But, if you keep postponing your appointment and days turn into months, you may be calling for trouble. 

Here are some issues you may begin to face when you keep wearing outdated prescription glasses for a longer period: 

 

• Blurry vision
• Headaches
• Squinting 
• Light sensitivity
• Eyestrain
• Trouble focusing

 

Sounds nasty, right? Your vision may change over some time and wearing the old, outdated ones is bound to worsen your eyesight. Even if your power doesn’t change, the lenses of your glasses may get scratched up or have minor drop damages.

Wait, Can Scratched Lenses Really Worsen Your Vision?

You might think that those small scratches on your lenses don’t matter much, but guess what? These negligible imperfections can have huge impacts on your vision in the long run. Scratches on your lenses (even the really tiny ones) can distort light and make it harder for your eyes to focus.

Oh, and it’s not just the scratches! While anti-scratch coatings can save you from such ordeals, nothing tackles drop damages. When you drop your glasses, your lenses tend to get a little misaligned. This minor change can throw off your prescription and give uneven vision correction.

The result? Blurry vision, unnecessary eye strain, and nasty headaches. So, it's best to get your glasses (and eye prescription) checked out sooner rather than later to avoid making the problem worse.

Grab Your New Glasses at The Right Time

Your vision is way too important to risk with carelessness or lack of knowledge. Stay on top of your eye prescriptions, schedule your eye appointments ahead of time, and follow through with them to minimize strain and discomfort. Let this be your reminder to grab your prescription slip, check it, and set up your next eye exam as and when needed, go for it right now!

Oh, and if you happen to be looking for a good pair of glasses for your new prescription, Sporteyes has you covered. Just browse through our catalog, select a pair, and send us your prescription details.