How Often Should You Update Your Prescription Lenses?
Author: Larry Zunde (Optometrist)
Date published: 20 March 2026
Learn how Often by age you should You Update Your Prescription Lenses?
You squint at your screen.
You push your glasses up your nose for the fifth time today.
You’ve been blaming the lighting, the font size, the screen brightness. But here’s the honest truth — it might just be that your prescription needs an update.
You see outdated prescription lenses are one of the most overlooked causes of daily eye strain, persistent headaches, and blurry vision.
And yet, so many people hold onto their glasses long after they’ve stopped doing their job properly.
So, how often should you update your prescription lenses?
The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. But there are clear guidelines that can protect your eyes and genuinely improve your daily quality of life.
After more than 30 years in optometry here in Bedfordview, I’ve seen firsthand what happens when people delay updating their lenses. Let’s get into it.
General Guidelines: How Often Should You Schedule an Exam?
Lets first start with the basics and that the Eye exam in general as this will guide us to the next steps.
The general rule of thumb is a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years for most adults.
That’s not an arbitrary number. Vision can shift gradually — so gradually that you may not notice until the problem has compounded.
For children, annual eye exams are especially important.
Their visual system is still developing, and a missed prescription change can quietly affect learning, concentration, and even behaviour at school.
For adults over 60, yearly visits are strongly recommended, as the risk of age-related eye conditions like Glaucoma as well as Macular Degeneration, increases significantly.
Think of your eye exam like a car service. You don’t wait until the engine fails. You stick to the schedule so small problems don’t become expensive ones.
Lifespan of Sight: Vision Changes from Ages 20 to 60+
Your prescription is not a fixed thing. It’s a moving target throughout your life, and each decade brings its own changes.
In your 20s, most people have relatively stable vision.
An eye exam every two years is usually sufficient.
That said, myopia — short-sightedness — often progresses in this decade, particularly with rising screen use.
In your 30s, vision tends to stabilise for many people.
But this is also when digital eye strain and dry eye become more common, especially for those working long hours on screens.
In your 40s, presbyopia enters the picture.
This is the gradual loss of your eye’s ability to focus at near.
Reading a restaurant menu suddenly becomes an arm-extension workout.
If you’ve never needed glasses before, this decade may be your first introduction. Annual exams become more valuable here.
From 50 onwards, the pace of change picks up.
Cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration become real risks.
By 60 and beyond, yearly exams aren’t just helpful — they’re essential for catching conditions early, before they affect your independence.
Red Flags: Signs Your Current Lenses Are Failing You
Your eyes will tell you when something is off.
The problem is, life gets busy, and we find ways to adapt instead of address.
Here are the clearest signs your prescription lenses need updating:
- Frequent headaches, especially after reading or prolonged screen time
- Blurry or double vision, even with your glasses on
- Squinting to see clearly at a distance or up close
- Eye fatigue and strain that builds throughout the day
- Difficulty driving at night, including halos or glare around headlights
- Holding objects further away — or closer — to bring them into focus
If you’re ticking more than one or two of these boxes, your current lenses are likely no longer correcting your vision accurately.
Wearing outdated prescription lenses can be like running a race with a stone in your shoe.
You can push through, but you’ll pay for it eventually.
Don’t ignore the signs. Your eyes are giving you a clear message.
Lifestyle Factors: When Your Routine Demands a New Prescription lens
Your daily routine plays a bigger role in your visual health than most people realize.
Increased screen time is one of the biggest drivers of prescription changes today.
Extended hours on digital devices place sustained demand on your focusing system.
Many patients find their prescription shifts more frequently after taking on screen-heavy roles or moving to remote work.
Pregnancy can temporarily alter your vision due to hormonal changes and fluid shifts in the body. Always mention this to your optometrist — it matters more than you think.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are both known to affect your prescription.
Blood sugar fluctuations cause the lens inside your eye to swell and change shape, making your vision inconsistent.
If you’ve recently been diagnosed or had changes in your treatment, a prescription check is a good idea.
High-performance sport is another overlooked factor.
If you play cricket, paddle, or any activity requiring sharp distance vision, precision counts.
Even a subtle shift in your refractive error can affect your performance — and your safety.
Simply put, if your life has changed significantly — new job, new health status, new demands on your eyes — your prescription may have shifted too.
Your vision is one of your most valuable assets.
Don’t wait for a crisis to take care of it. A comprehensive eye exam every one to two years — or sooner if something feels off — is one of the best investments you can make.
If you can’t remember when you last had your eyes tested, that’s probably your answer right there.
Book your eye exam at Larry Zunde Optometrists in Bedfordview.
We’ll give your vision the attention it deserves.
📞 011 454 3929 | 95 Boeing Rd East, Bedfordview, Germiston
About the Author:
Larry Zunde is an optometrist with over 30 years experience at Larry Zunde Optometrists situated in Bedfordview.
His optometric training included an emphasis on eye exams, contact lenses fitting, ocular disease and low vision specialist.
His optometric training also included working at St. Johns Eye Hospital, part of Baragwanath Academic Hospital, whilst doing his military service.
