Can I use my VR headset with glasses? How safe is a VR headset for my eyes? The questions above wander through the minds of people around the globe.
A study carried out by the Vision Council of America shows that about 64% of adults around the globe wear glasses. It is highly unlikely for you not to know at least one person that wears glasses!
The virtual reality field is growing at an alarming rate, some of us can even go to any length to buy the latest virtual reality headset. If you are among the people that use vision correction products, you may likely be apprehensive about VR headsets.
Do you at times wonder that prescription lenses or glasses would ruin your immersive VR experience? Don’t worry! You ain’t the only one feeling this way.
We have a lot of information and ideas to share in this article. Do well to follow us on this journey, as we’ll analyze and examine the VR guide for people with glasses and prescription lenses.
Can I Wear Glasses When Using my VR Headset?
We can not give a straightforward answer to this question. Being able to wear your glasses with a VR headset depends on some factors; They include:
- Type of headset
- Size of your glasses
- Farsightedness
- Short-sightedness
Type of Headset
There is no gainsaying that many manufacturers of VR headsets were not necessarily thinking of eyeglasses when making their products. This can present a serious challenge to VR enthusiasts who wear glasses.
The type of headset you have is one of the factors that determine if you’d be able to use your headset with glasses.
Imagine going to a store to buy a VR headset, then you got home, only to discover your headset won’t fit comfortably because of your glasses. That can be so depressing!
If you wear glasses, you need to make sure you buy a headset that would make you comfortable and the one that would not ruin your VR experience.
We did a lot of extensive research to pick out the 3 best VR headsets for those using glasses. There may still be other types of headsets that can be used successfully with eyeglasses. But the following list is our top 3 pick of headset for eyeglasses:
- PSVR
- Oculus Rift
- HTC Vive
PSVR
The PlayStation VR headset is arguably the best headset for VR lovers wearing glasses. We didn’t just reach this conclusion based on our feelings and emotions. We took our time to analyze it.
This headset would accommodate different kinds of frames of eyeglasses. You don’t need to be worried about this headset fitting with your glasses.
The only downside of using this headset with eyeglasses is the pain often felt by users at the bridge of the nose.
We painstakingly read different reviews across about this product to reach our conclusion.
Oculus Rift
Oculus Rift is a relatively good product for those using eyeglasses. There are a few important steps to take when trying to wear it with eyeglasses.
- Make sure to wear the headset from the front.
- Untie the velcro belt until the headset can sit easily on the top of your head.
- Adjust the fit screw or wheel to fasten the ring band
- You can choose to press the depth adjustment button at the base of the headset to make it easy for you to wear the headset over your eyeglasses.
After all the steps listed above, if you find out the glasses still don’t fit, we recommend that you untie the belts before putting the headset on your head.
HTC Vive
HTC Vive VR headset is among the most popular headsets loved by many people. According to our findings, we observed it is generally the most accepted by the glasses-wearing population.
If you wear glasses and you want to buy the HTC Vive, make sure the frame of your eyeglasses is not greater than 152mm wide in circumference and not greater than 61mm in height.
One good thing about the HTC Vive is the ability to modify the lens of the VR headset from your eyeglasses. You can also adjust the headset to allow more space for your glasses by using the screw wheel of the headset, thereby creating more space.
You don’t have to panic, wearing eyeglasses does not prevent you from enjoying the immersive VR experience that comes with the HTC Vive.
Size of Eyeglasses
Most times, the ability for you to use a VR headset successfully with eyeglasses depends on the size of the frame. Make sure to do proper research before buying your glasses. Be sure it would fit properly with your desired headset.
When you get to the store to buy your eyeglasses, there are simple tricks you can carry out to easily determine the size of the frame. There are four important things to measure; Frame width, Lens Height, Lens width, and the bridge.
To measure the frame width, horizontal measurement should be done. Take the reading across the whole length of the frame.
For the measurement of the lens height, unlike the frame width, take the reading of the lens height vertically. You begin the measurement at the highest point. If the lens is bifocal, ensure the height of the lens is 30mm at the minimum.
To measure the length width, make sure to start the measurement at the broadest point. You should measure horizontally. Another important factor to know is that the distance between your pupils should easily be fitted by the lens.
The bridge is the easiest to measure out of all the four measurements. To measure, take the reading in a horizontal pattern. Measure from the rim of one end to the other end.
Farsightedness
This eye condition is also medically known as hyperopia. It is simply the inability to see objects that are very close or near. It is very common among older adults.
If you have this condition, it is still very possible to use a VR headset with your prescribed eyeglasses. The farsightedness lens aims to magnify close objects.
While using a VR headset with your eyeglasses, the prescribed lens would then magnify the headset lens even more.
Generally speaking, those with this eye condition do not have problems in using a headset with their prescribed eyeglasses.
Numerous VR headset manufacturers today are very reluctant in revealing what the focal distance of their VR lenses is set to. Bearing this fact in mind, you can try experimenting with different headset and notice the one that perfectly suits you.
For farsighted people, we recommend they take intermittent breaks to avoid straining their eyes. Strained eyes can ruin your VR experience if you don’t guard against it.
Short-Sightedness
This eye condition is also known as myopia. It is the inability to see far away objects. It is the direct opposite of farsightedness. People with the condition can perfectly see near objects.
Using a VR headset for those with short-sightedness can be very problematic. The level of prescription is crucial to determine if those with short-sightedness can use a VR headset at all.
If you’re the type of person that finds it difficult to see objects that are two meters away from you, we would recommend you wear eyeglasses when using your VR headset.
Wearing eyeglasses with a VR headset can be so uncomfortable, there is a strong possibility of the VR screen damaging the lens of your eyeglasses. In that case, you may decide to opt for contact lenses, which may be the best option in this case.
There are three prescription levels recommended for people with shortsighted sightedness if they truly want to enjoy the VR experience. Prescription level -1.00, -2.00 and -3.00. We will explain these prescription levels one after the other.
Prescription level -1.00
If you were given a prescription lens of -1.00 by your optometrist, consider yourself among the fortunate ones. You can safely use your VR headset with this type of eyeglasses.
Be rest assured that you won’t miss out on the little details that most times make a big difference if we are going to have an immersive VR experience.
Another good thing is the fact that you won’t be putting your eyes under unnecessary strain.
Prescription level -2.00
This level of prescription is not the best for VR experience in people that are short-sighted. We did a lot of investigation to determine how comfortable are people with the -2.00 prescription level.
Our findings reveal that this type of lens can be used with a VR headset. Though people using this type of prescription lens might not have the best VR experience. But they can still enjoy it to a very reasonable extent.
There have been some reported cases of eye strain after using this type of prescription lens. It is advisable to take regular breaks while using this type of lens for VR headsets.
Prescription level -3.00
The moment we start talking about this type of prescription lens, it is not advisable to use this type of prescription lens with a VR headset.
If you decide to use this type of lens for a VR headset, you won’t enjoy the immersive experience that comes with virtual reality. What is the benefit of buying something that would have no use?
Also, your eyes would be intensely strained if you decide to use this lens with a VR headset.
We strongly advise against using any prescription lens lower than -3.00. You may be doing a lot of damage to your eyes.
VR prescription lens inserts
Using your eyeglasses with a VR headset can be very difficult most times. To get around this problem, you can decide to buy a prescription lens insert. These prescription lenses are specially made to be inserted into VR headsets.
When you use this type of prescription lens, the need for a standard frame is excluded. These prescription lenses can be compared to normal eyeglasses.
The most significant difference is the fact that prescription lens inserts are not connected, unlike normal eyeglasses. They stand apart totally from each other.
These prescription lens inserts can easily be fitted into your VR headset. Frames are not needed for this to work.
The manufacturers of these lenses designed them in a way that the hollow part of the lens is facing your eye directly, not the screen. It is made in this manner to prevent the scratching of the screen.
What is required of you is to find a way to fasten the adaptors for your prescription lens to guard against the lens falling off.
VR headsets are designed in a manner to provide the best experience while using the prescription lens inserts. The field of vision is also well enhanced when using the prescription lens with a VR headset.
VR prescription lenses; How do they work?
You may be wondering how prescription lenses work? It is not as hard as you may think!
We want you to bear in mind that prescription lenses are quite different from regular eyeglasses. The main purpose of making these lenses is for you to use them with a VR headset.
Now let’s get more into this; when you choose to concentrate on an object that is far away from you, this process is known as infinity. During ‘infinity’, the rays of light are either resembling or parallel.
Concentrating on distant objects lowers the tensions in both eyes. If the object you are focused on is being moved nearer to your eyes, the tension in both eyes starts to increase.
Now, let’s try to experiment with all we have been saying. Take one of your palms, project it in front of you, the distance between your eyes and the palm should be about 6 inches. Furthermore, take your eyes away from the palm and look into the far distance, then focus on your palm again.
What do you observe? Under normal circumstances, your eyes find it easier to concentrate on the distance than focusing on your palm.
If you then decide to move your palm closer to your eyes, it will reach a certain point that your eyes would find it hard to focus on your palm. The rule is that if an object is too close to the eyes, the eye lens finds it difficult to focus on the object.
This explains the reason why those using eyeglasses need a prescription lens for their VR headsets. These special lenses make objects that very near appear like they are far away.
You can order your prescription lens on the headset manufacturer’s website. When you have your prescription lens, it would enhance your VR immersive experience. It would be as if you are using your eyeglasses in the real world.
Are you wondering if maybe we have something called VR contact lenses? Unfortunately, we don’t have anything like that for now. You can use your contact lenses with a VR headset just fine.
5 Things You Should Know Before Getting Contact Lenses for VR
We understand the fact that some people are more comfortable with using contact lenses over regular eyeglasses. One of the benefits of using contact lenses is the ability to have a large field of vision with natural vision not being impeded.
We have a concise list of everything you need to know before buying a contact lens.
1) Prescription contact lens is brand-specific
There is a specific brand for every contact lens prescription. Different materials are often used to make them. You may have noticed that one specific brand of contact lens works better for you than the others.
From our discovery, it is often better to use contact lenses that have been prescribed by an eye expert. Wearing the recommended contact lens helps in guarding against allergic reactions and other possible eye problems.
Wearing a specific brand of contact lenses would also help you to determine the type of VR headset you’re more comfortable with.
2) Prescription is also needed for colored contact lenses
It is often thought that colored contact lenses don’t need a prescription by a qualified eye expert. You may entertain this thought because colored contact lenses are most times used for cosmetic reasons.
The truth is; a prescription is often required to wear colored contact lenses. You should be extra careful when using a colored contact lens, wearing the wrong specification can damage the eyes.
If there’s a defect in just one eye, doctors at times prescribe a pair of contact lenses, one corrective lens for the defective eye and a Plano lens for the non-affected eye. Plano lens means the lens has zero corrective power. It is there for cosmetic purposes.
3) Always request a copy of your prescription contact lenses
You may not know about this before, but we are going to share an important piece of information with you. Whenever you visit your optometrist or ophthalmologist, always remember to request a spare copy of your eye prescription.
The Federal Trade Commission compels every eye expert to provide patients with a copy of their eyeglass prescription whether they request it or not. They should give you a copy of the prescription immediately after your eye examination. A prescription should include:
- The name of the patient
- Date of the eye examination
- Type or brand of lenses prescribed
- Contact information and license number of the doctor
- Expiration date
4) Always make your prescription handy!
Your prescription is meant to be accessible. A very good option is to take a snapshot of it and keep it on your mobile device. This would make it easily accessible.
Another good option is to securely keep the document in your mailbox. Take a photo of the prescription document and send it to your email. You could easily retrieve it when the need arises.
5) Follow your doctor’s instructions and guidelines
After successfully getting your contact lenses from your doctor, he will most likely give you some set of instructions to follow. For example, he might tell you the number of times to wear your lenses each day.
It is always better to follow the guidelines provided by the doctor to avoid causing unnecessary damage and irritation to the eye.
The guidelines and instructions provided a few days after the prescription may include limited use of the contact lenses in the first few days, to allow both eyes to adjust to the new materials.
After this, you’ll be allowed to increase the number of hours. Always remember to detach your contact lenses each day to give your eyes some breathing space!
10 Top Tips for Budget-friendly Eyeglasses and VR
Without a doubt, those who don’t wear eyeglasses enjoy VR better than those who do. If you do, we have some tips to share. The following are some tips to remember when using budget-friendly eyeglasses with a VR headset:
- When you go to a store to purchase glasses, ensure you measure the glasses before buying a VR headset.
- Follow the manufacturer’s guide when trying to wear the headset.
- Alter the headset velcro strap until it becomes comfortable for you.
- Before wearing the headset, bring your eyeglasses a little bit forward so you’ll avoid unwarranted strain to the bridge of your nose.
- Always bear in mind that the lens of your eyeglasses is always at risk of being scratched when used with a VR headset.
- Oculus Rift is more suited for people with medium-sized eyeglasses.
- HTC Vive headset is more suited for people with larger eyeglasses.
- If you spend a longer time with a VR headset using eyeglasses, Playstation VR is our recommended choice.
- If you discover that your eyeglasses feel so uncomfortable while using a VR headset, you can switch to using prescription lens inserts. These lenses work by making objects that appear close look far off.
- Contact lenses might be the best if you want to have an immersive experience with a VR headset.
Accessories to Enhance Comfort
If you wear eyeglasses or not, some vital accessories can improve your VR experience. We have about 2 accessories we would recommend to anyone using a VR headset. We will highlight these products one after the other.
1) VR cover facial interface upgrade
We are sure you understand how terrible it can be to have a sweaty face after using a VR headset for long hours. If you decide to apply a VR cover facial interface, it serves as a cushion between the headset and your face.
Another good thing about the VR cover is that you can easily clean and wipe off dirt whenever you want. When you are using this VR cover, there is no need to buy a spacer for your eyeglasses because the VR cover is denser than the VR headset’s pad.
2) VR power battery from Rebuff Reality
The VR power battery is mainly for the users of Oculus Quest 2. The power battery prolongs the lifespan of your VR headset. This power battery also enables you to play a VR game for up to 8 hours non-stop. The capacity of the power battery is around 10,000mAh.
The power battery also provides a counterweight effect in the Oculus Quest. The power battery is designed in a way to allow the user to easily install and uninstall at the rear end of the Oculus Quest.
You can also decide to connect the power battery to the headset using a USB cord. There is a strap provided that helps to hold all these cables in place.
Benefits of VR for Eyeglasses Users
We know about the negative effects of VR on our eyes. Examples include; eye strain, swollen eyes, headaches, and so on. We hardly read about the probable benefits of VR for our eyes. We’ll discuss the few benefits in this guide.
When you stick to the manufacturer’s instructions on the VR headset, you would be doing a lot of good to your eyes. We have a few VR headsets that can improve your eyes and quicken the development of vision.
Advances in the VR field have made the seemingly impossible stuff to be made possible. VR technology developments have been able to enhance the visual acuity in people with amblyopia.
VR technology improvements have been able to improve overall eye coordination and the general eye condition of amblyopic people.
The Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Future Visual Entertainment carried out research that indicated that using VR can enhance a preteen’s vision. Additionally, their study suggested shortsightedness and farsightedness can even be improved by using high-end VR.
The bottom line of their report states that “the best way to experience the benefits of virtual reality is by using a high-end headset with a suitably designed virtual image distance”. Unfortunately, just a few people have access to a high-end headset.
Safety Warnings about VR and Eyeglasses
- Under no circumstances should children below the age of 13 (using glasses or not) use a VR headset.
- You should avoid using the VR headset if you’re suffering from insomnia or lack of sleep.
- People who are pregnant, those suffering from mental health disorders, and those under the strong influence of hard drugs and alcohol should avoid a VR headset.
- VR enthusiasts should be aware of the facts that eye twitching, dizziness and other unpalatable medical conditions might develop when using a VR headset.
- If you suffer from epilepsy, consult your neurologist before using a VR headset
- Eye damage can occur if the VR headset is positioned to face direct sunlight or any other great intensity light source. It can also cause burn wounds in extreme cases.
- VR should be avoided while driving or when operating any machinery.
- Always make sure the lenses of your eyeglasses are clean before using them with a VR headset.
- If your eyes are tingling or moving uncontrollably by themselves, seek appropriate medical help.
Benefits of Blueguard Coating for Your VR Lens
It has been discovered that blue light generated from various electronic gadgets can cause macular degeneration, eye strain, blurry vision, and cataracts. It is also known to cause insomnia.
If you’re accustomed to using an electronic device just before bedtime, falling asleep would probably become more difficult. All thanks to the blue light generated by electronic devices!
The essence of the blue guard coating is to protect your eyes from the damaging effects of low energy blue light rays.
The blueguard coating is made of antistatic and superhydrophobic materials. These materials make the cleaning of the lenses very easy.
You can also decide to purchase an anti-fog wiping towel that guards against fogging up your headset and lenses.
Have you ever picked up your eyeglasses to use with a VR headset and to your surprise, you can barely see anything all because of accumulated fog on the lenses.
Do you know there are several ways of cleaning your eyeglasses without ever going to a store? We will briefly highlight ways to clean your glasses without spending some good cash.
Vinegar is very effective in getting rid of fog and dirt. Now let’s dig in:
- Look for an empty bottle, mix about two-third of the vinegar with clean water and pour the mixture inside the bottle.
- Shake the mixture vigorously.
- Spray some quantity on your eyeglasses.
- Get a clean cloth to gently wipe off the mixture.
- You can repeat the steps above until you are satisfied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a VR headset damage your eyes?
There has been no substantial evidence to prove that a VR headset can cause permanent eye damage. According to research carried out by the makers of Oculus. The report states “1 in 4000 people may suffer from eye twitching, dizziness, and eyestrain after the use of VR headset”
Constant use of VR can aggravate pre-existing eye problems. Moderation is very important when using VR. You don’t wanna sit all-day playing VR games.
We recommend taking a break(5-10 minutes) every hour. Use the break to stroll around, peep through the window or take a well-deserved rest.
Can people with Astigmatism use a VR headset?
Yes, they can. Astigmatism is a condition in which there is a disparity between the lenses of both eyes. The curvature of the lens in one eye might be greater than the other.
Those with astigmatism wear glasses in real life, but wearing glasses with VR might not be so comfortable. If this is the case, wearing contact lenses provides a good option for enjoying your VR experience.
We found out that those with astigmatism seem to be more comfortable using Oculus Rift. If you are using a contact lens, try to blink as many times as possible to prevent dry eyes.
Can a one-eyed person enjoy VR?
Yes, they can! Frankly speaking, having just one eye intact can affect one’s ability to gauge depth perception. Those with two eyes intact are better at gauging perception.
Having just one eye working doesn’t matter when it comes to having an immersive experience with VR. They don’t have a diminished VR experience because it is not something they are used to.
The only disadvantage of using a VR headset with one eye is the reduced field of vision often experienced. Those with two eyes don’t encounter this problem because they have a large area of view.
Why does VR hurt my eyes?
It is no longer uncommon for some VR users to experience eye strain, dizziness and nausea after some sessions playing VR games.
The reason why this happens is that our brain is conditioned to interpret stimuli coming from both eyes in an entirely different manner. This can put a whole lot of stress on both eyes.
When you feel eye strain when using a VR headset, it’s a big sign you need to give a well-deserved rest to your brain and eyes!
Can VR cause a seizure?
In people with photosensitive epilepsy, VR might not be safe for them. VR images that blaze so fast may trigger seizures in them.
Neurologists often advise people with photosensitive epilepsy to stay clear of VR to prevent seizures.
If you have epilepsy, do well to understand the nature of your epilepsy and your seizure triggers. If flashing images are part of your triggers, it would be wise to avoid using a VR headset.
Conclusion
As previously mentioned, the VR field is growing at an alarming rate. In this guide, we’ve been able to discuss ways in which we can successfully use prescription lenses with a VR headset.
Don’t ever allow your corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses to ever get in the way of having an immersive VR experience!
We sincerely hope you enjoyed reading this guide. Are you currently using your VR headset with glasses or contact lenses? What have been your experiences so far? Or do you have some suggestions you’ll like to share with us?
We’ll like to hear from you in the comments section.
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