When Glasses Aren’t the Answer: Seeing Fine Isn’t the Same as Seeing Healthy
- simplifeyeoptical
- Jan 1
- 5 min read
Someone close to me went years without regular eye exams.
Not because they didn’t care — but because, in their mind, everything seemed fine.
They could still see clearly in the distance.
They could still read without trouble.
They didn’t need glasses.
So the assumption was: why bother?
And that’s a very common way of thinking.
What most people don’t realize is how good our brains are at compensating. When something isn’t working quite right, the brain fills in gaps, smooths over inconsistencies, and helps us function — often without us noticing. We adjust gradually, and “fine” becomes our new normal.
But functioning isn’t the same as seeing your best. And seeing your best isn’t the same as your eyes being healthy.
This is something I come up against often in my work as an optician. People see glasses as the goal — or the proof — of whether eye care is necessary at all. If they don’t need glasses, or if their current ones still feel “good enough,” it’s easy to assume everything else must be fine too.
But eye exams aren’t about whether you need glasses.
They’re about assessing the health of your eyes — and often, your overall health too.
They allow eye care providers to evaluate structures inside the eye, monitor changes over time, and sometimes detect early signs of conditions that don’t show up elsewhere.
They’re about eye health — not just eyesight.
As an optician, I don’t diagnose eye disease or perform eye exams. My role sits after that step — helping people see their best when glasses or lenses are part of the solution.
But part of my responsibility, as one of the “three O’s” (ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians), is also to help people understand why regular, comprehensive eye exams matter — even when they feel like they’re seeing just fine.
Because there are conditions where glasses don’t help at all. And some of them don’t come with obvious symptoms.
January is recognized as Glaucoma Awareness Month, which makes it a fitting time to talk about why waiting for symptoms before booking an eye exam isn’t the best strategy. Glaucoma is often called the silent thief of sight — and for good reason.
Where glaucoma fits into this conversation
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve — the structure responsible for carrying visual information from the eye to the brain.
In its most common forms, this damage happens slowly and without pain. Peripheral (side) vision is often affected first, while central vision — the vision we rely on most for reading, recognizing faces, and daily tasks — can remain clear for a long time.
That’s what makes glaucoma so challenging.
People don’t usually notice changes early on. There’s no blur to correct, no obvious warning sign, and nothing glasses can improve. Vision loss can progress quietly, sometimes for years, before it becomes noticeable — and by then, the damage is permanent.
This is why glaucoma is often discovered during a routine comprehensive eye exam, not because someone felt something was wrong.
Why waiting for symptoms isn’t enough
Many people assume they’ll feel a problem with their eyes — or that they’ll notice their vision slipping.
With glaucoma, that’s often not the case.
You can:
see clearly on an eye chart
function well day to day
feel confident in your vision
…and still have early glaucoma.
That’s because the brain is excellent at compensating, especially when changes happen gradually. We don’t miss what we don’t realize we’ve lost.
This is also why relying on glasses as a marker of eye health doesn’t work. Glasses correct focus — glaucoma affects the nerve itself.
How glaucoma is detected
Glaucoma is identified and monitored through a combination of findings during an eye exam, which may include:
eye pressure measurements
examination of the optic nerve
visual field testing
retinal imaging to track changes over time
No single test tells the whole story. It’s the pattern — and how it changes over time — that matters.
This is one of the reasons regular exams are so important. They allow eye care providers to establish a baseline and catch changes early, before vision is affected.
One often-overlooked piece of the puzzle
When people think about eye exams, they often think about vision — and sometimes medications.
What they don’t always think to mention are the everyday products they use around their eyes.
Over-the-counter eye drops.
“Redness relief” drops.
Lash growth serums.
Cosmetic products applied close to the lash line.
Some of these products may seem harmless — and many are widely used — but research has shown that certain ingredients can affect the surface of the eye, blood flow, or eye pressure, especially with frequent or long-term use.
For example:
some lash serums use ingredients related to prostaglandins, which are also involved in medical glaucoma treatments
certain redness-reducing drops work by temporarily constricting blood vessels and aren’t intended for regular, long-term use
This doesn’t mean these products automatically cause glaucoma — but it does mean your eye care provider should know about them.
A simple but helpful habit: at your next eye exam, mention any eye drops you use (prescription or over the counter), how often you use them, and any lash serums or cosmetic products applied near the eyes.
Eye care works best when the full picture is on the table — even the parts that seem minor.
Who should be especially mindful
Glaucoma can affect anyone, but risk increases with:
age
family history of glaucoma
certain medical conditions
long-term steroid use
Having risk factors doesn’t mean someone will develop glaucoma — but it does mean exams shouldn’t be delayed or skipped.
What treatment looks like
Glaucoma is managed medically by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Treatment may involve:
prescription eye drops
laser procedures
surgical options in some cases
The goal of treatment is to slow or stop further damage, not to restore vision that’s already been lost.
This is why early detection is so critical.
Where glasses still matter — and where they don’t
Glasses don’t treat glaucoma.
They don’t reduce eye pressure.
They don’t repair optic nerve damage.
But they can still play an important role after diagnosis, supporting how someone uses the vision they have.
As an optician, this is often where my role fits:
optimizing clarity
improving contrast
reducing visual strain
supporting daily activities
Glasses aren’t the treatment — but they can absolutely support quality of life.
Practical steps you can take
If you take nothing else from this post, let it be this:
don’t wait for symptoms to book an eye exam
don’t use “I see fine” as a reason to skip care
know your family history
keep a regular exam schedule based on your age and risk factors
Eye exams aren’t about finding glasses.
They’re about protecting your vision.
The takeaway
Glaucoma doesn’t announce itself.
It doesn’t blur your vision early on.
And it doesn’t care how “fine” things feel.
That’s why awareness matters.
Because sometimes, the most important step in protecting your sight isn’t changing your glasses — it’s making sure your eyes are being checked, even when nothing seems wrong.
Written by Teresa Smith, Registered Optician
Founder of Simplifeye Optical, a mobile optical practice serving Simcoe County and surrounding communities. Teresa works as an optician first and foremost — helping people understand their vision, choose eyewear that fits well and feels right, and recognize when vision changes may need to be assessed beyond glasses.
This article is shared for general information and does not replace advice from an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
