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Expert Reviewer: Zhang Like, professor at Peking University Health Science Center.

Glasses can bend while being worn; this is something that many glasses users have experienced in their daily lives. How is it possible that good glasses can suddenly become misaligned? The cause may be a small gesture: taking off or putting on glasses with one hand.

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Many people are accustomed to putting on and taking off glasses with one hand, thinking it is convenient and stylish. However, this small gesture, which seems harmless, can negatively impact vision and even accelerate the development of myopia.

The main reasons why removing glasses with one hand can affect vision are as follows: 1. Visual Imbalance: When glasses are removed with one hand, if only one lens is taken off, it can cause the eyes to receive different visual information, leading to visual imbalance. 2. Change in Focus: Glasses are designed according to individual vision needs; removing them with one hand can lead to imprecise focus, making it difficult for the eyes to adapt to the new focal length, which in turn affects visual clarity. 3. Habitual Impact: The habit of wearing glasses makes the eyes work under different lenses, and if glasses are carelessy removed, it may force the eyes to adapt to an unfamiliar visual state, potentially causing temporary blurriness. 4. Psychological Factors: Removing glasses can cause discomfort, leading to anxiety and affecting visual state. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid removing glasses with one hand unless necessary to protect vision.

Glasses, as optical tools for vision correction, have each component's position calculated with precision. A quality pair of glasses should allow the optical center of the lenses to be perfectly aligned with the center of the pupil, so that light can focus correctly on the retina.

Image source: Captured by the author.

The frames of the glasses are connected to the temples by a small hinge. If glasses are removed or put on with one hand, it is easy for the temples to be subject to unequal forces. Over time, the screws of the hinge connecting the frame to the temples can gradually loosen, causing the frame to deform, the temples to become uneven, or the lenses to tilt.

The harm of deformed glasses to vision is mainly reflected in the following areas: 1. Optical Center Displacement: When the glasses frame deforms, the optical center of the lens may shift. This can lead to misalignment of vision, increasing eye fatigue and discomfort. 2. Blurred Vision: Deformed lenses may affect the angle of light refraction, leading to blurred vision and affecting the clarity of daily sight. 3. Headaches and Eye Fatigue: Long-term wear of deformed glasses may cause eye fatigue and headaches, especially when concentration is required, such as reading or using a computer. 4. Impact on Eye Health: Prolonged use of unsuitable glasses may lead to more serious vision problems, such as worsening refractive errors, and could even cause other damage to the eyes. Therefore, it is very important to adjust or replace deformed glasses in a timely manner to ensure visual health.

This type of deformation can cause the optical center of the lens to shift with respect to the center of the pupil, preventing external light from reaching the pupil through the optical center of the lens, thereby affecting the proper focusing of light and generating a "prism effect." To see objects clearly through decentered lenses, our eyes must make additional and unnatural efforts, which can easily lead to problems such as visual fatigue, dizziness, and a feeling of pressure in the eyes.

For teenagers who are in a critical period of visual development, this impact is even more severe. Prolonged use of deformed glasses may interfere with normal visual development, indirectly accelerating the progression of myopia.

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In addition, patients with astigmatism have higher demands for the precision of the lens axis. Frame deformation can lead to inaccurate correction of astigmatism, further affecting the quality of vision. Patients with high myopia often have a type of poor vision, and any slight misalignment in glasses can intensify discomfort, increasing the likelihood of visual fatigue and even potentially accelerating the increase of prescription strength.

Your glasses may have been 'damaged in combat' for some time.

Of course, the reasons why glasses deform are not limited to removing them with one hand. Factors such as improper storage causing impacts or compressions, poor manufacturing quality of the glasses, lack of cleaning for a long time, frequent opening and closing of the temples, accumulation of grease and dust, and wear of hinges and nose pads can also lead to misalignment.

Additionally, resin lenses will inevitably become dirty with dust, oil smoke, and sweat in daily life. If not cleaned properly, the surfaces of the lenses may develop small scratches. These scratches will reduce light transmission, causing vision to become blurry. To see more clearly, the eyes must exert more effort in adjustment, leading to visual fatigue and an increase in prescription.

To determine whether the glasses are misaligned, you can use the following simple methods: 1. Visual Inspection: Place the glasses on a flat surface and check if the lenses are parallel to the table. If one lens is higher than the other, it indicates that the glasses may be misaligned. 2. Wearing Experience: After putting on the glasses, observe if there is discomfort or a feeling of misalignment. If the glasses slide down the nose or are inclined to one side, it may mean the glasses are misaligned. 3. Symmetry Check: Observe in the mirror whether the glasses are symmetrical on the face; sometimes asymmetry in the frame can cause visual discomfort. 4. Use Measuring Tools: You can use a ruler or level to measure if the heights of the left and right frames are consistent. 5. Professional Adjustment: If the above methods do not allow for proper determination or adjustment, it is advisable to go to a professional optical store for examination and adjustment. Through these methods, it is possible to accurately determine whether the glasses are misaligned and make timely adjustments.

Determining if the glasses are deformed is not difficult. Place the glasses flat on the table and observe if both temples touch the surface of the table simultaneously, checking if either side is raised. Then, turn the glasses upside down and place them on the back to see if the temples are aligned. Finally, close the temples and observe if both can approximately maintain a straight line.

Image source: taken by the author.

If there is a noticeable misalignment, do not forcefully adjust them yourself. Different materials of frames experience stress differently, and self-adjusting can easily lead to breaking the temple or damaging the hinge; it is best to go to a professional optical institution for adjustment by an optician.

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The correct way to care for glasses includes the following points: 1. Regular Cleaning: Use specialized eyeglass cleaning solutions and soft cloths to regularly clean the lenses, avoiding paper towels or clothing that could scratch the lenses. 2. Careful Storage: When not in use, place the glasses in a specialized eyeglass case, avoiding direct placement on the table or in a bag to prevent scratches or deformation. 3. Avoid High Temperatures: Do not place glasses in high-temperature environments, such as inside a car or near heat sources, to prevent damage to the lens coating. 4. Be Cautious While Wearing: Avoid vigorous movements while wearing glasses to prevent them from falling or being damaged. 5. Regular Checks: Visit a professional optical store regularly for adjustments and checks to ensure the frame and lenses are in good condition. 6. Avoid Wiping with Hands: If lenses need to be wiped, it is best to use a professional eyeglass cleaning cloth instead of wiping with hands to reduce the impact of finger oils on the lenses. By following these methods, the lifespan of the glasses can be effectively extended while maintaining clear vision.

Correct way to take off and put on: It is recommended to hold the temples of the glasses with both hands and remove them parallelly, avoiding pulling from one side.

Proper storage: After removing the glasses, place them with the convex surface facing up to avoid direct rubbing with the table, which could cause scratches. When not using them, store them in their case to reduce the risk of drops and pressure.

Regular checkup: It is important to periodically check if the glasses frame is deformed. Place the glasses on a flat surface to observe if the temples are aligned and if the frame has any elevation. It is also recommended to visit a specialized store every 3 to 6 months for frame adjustments and maintenance.