Having Dizzy Spells? You May Need Glasses

Often the need for glasses is assessed based on vision issues such as squinting to see letters on blackboards, in books, or on road signs. But sometimes signs are a bit less obvious—like dizziness.

What is dizziness?

What exactly is dizziness, and how does it relate to your eyes? If you feel unsteady, lightheaded, as if your body is moving while you're not, or like your head is "swimming," you're experiencing dizziness. Typically, you have these feelings upon standing, especially if it's quickly, but you can also experience dizziness while sitting or lying down.

Symptoms and causes of eye strain dizziness

Dizziness in the eyes is a bit different. It's more focused in one area and is generally accompanied by blurry vision. Eye dizziness is often caused by eye strain from excessive technology use without breaks. While sitting in front of a computer, try to follow the 20/20/20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look up from the screen and focus on an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

Dizziness treatment

If you find your dizzy spells aren't going away, then you should make an appointment with your eye doctor to discuss the issue and see if you need glasses. If you already have glasses, you may be wearing a pair of glasses that aren't properly fitted, or your prescription may no longer be accurate. A pair of glasses that are fitted too tightly can cause both headaches and dizziness. The wrong prescription can cause similar problems.

The good news is you shouldn't have permanent problems as a result of a prescription that isn't accurate. Wearing glasses that are too strong or otherwise wrong can’t hurt your eyes, although it might result in a temporary headache. At worse, the glasses will fail to correct your vision and make you uncomfortable because of blurriness.

If you're experiencing additional symptoms beyond dizziness, consult your regular physician as well as an eyecare professional. Sometimes dizziness, blurriness, or headaches can be a sign of a more serious illness.