ADHD Glasses: Help Boost Focus with Special Lenses
ADHD glasses do more than correct vision—they can improve focus, reduce eye strain, and may enhance your overall quality of life.
By the end of this post you will understand more about how these specialized lenses may help you make life with ADHD more manageable.
ADHD Glasses: How They Improve Focus and Enhance Life
Ever feel like no matter how much effort you put in, staying focused seems nearly impossible?
For many with ADHD, this is an ongoing struggle.
If you or someone you know has ADHD, it's important to understand how vision could be both impacted by, and contributing to, your symptoms.
ADHD glasses can make teaching, learning, and daily tasks easier.
By the end of this post you will know more about how a change in eyewear could potentially help you manage your symptoms.
This blog offers educational content; not medical advice. Please, consult a healthcare professional for personal mental or physical health concerns.
This post also contains an affiliate link. If you make a purchase using it, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. That money goes to support Teach with ND and my family. Thank you!
Understanding ADHD and Vision Problems
When we think about ADHD, we often focus on attention regulation difficulties and impulsivity.
But did you know that vision problems can also play a significant role?
Understanding the link between ADHD and vision can shed light on why ADHD glasses can be incredibly beneficial.
Definition of ADHD
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder.
It affects both children and adults, impacting the ability to focus, control impulses, initiate, and follow through on tasks.
These symptoms result partially from issues with executive functions, which are the brain's ability to plan, focus attention, prioritize, and regulate emotions, among other things.
People with ADHD often struggle to stay organized, manage their time, and complete mundane, repetitive, uninteresting, boring, or non-preferred tasks.
Common Vision Problems in People with ADHD
Yet, it's not just the brain that can make focusing difficult.
Many people with ADHD also deal with visual impairments that can exacerbate their symptoms.
Let's look at some common vision problems that can sometimes affect those with ADHD:
- Convergence Insufficiency:
- This condition makes it hard for the eyes to work together when looking at something close up, leading to double vision or headaches.
- It can make reading and close-up work particularly challenging, which can be frustrating and derailing.
- Binocular Vision Dysfunction:
- When the eyes do not align properly, it can cause symptoms like dizziness, headaches, and learning difficulties.
- Tasks that involve depth perception or tracking moving objects become much harder.
- Reading difficulties often result. (See FAQ's for more information about using Speechify to help with this.)
- Vertical Heterophoria:
- This specific type of binocular vision dysfunction occurs when one eye is slightly higher than the other.
- It can lead to significant headaches, anxiety, neck pain, and a feeling of imbalance or “vertigo,” making it harder to stay focused.
- Visual Impairments:
- These are broader issues like blurred vision or astigmatism that can affect anyone, but they can aggravate ADHD symptoms.
- Struggling to see clearly can make it even more difficult to pay attention and can cause unnecessary strain and fatigue.
Understanding these common vision issues helps to understand why ADHD glasses can be a so critical.
By addressing vision problems, these glasses not only improve sight but, as a result, also help reduce the mental strain that makes focusing so tough for those with ADHD.
How ADHD Glasses Work
ADHD glasses aim to help people with ADHD by improving vision, thereby reducing distractions.
In the case of vertical heterophoria, microprisms can help alleviate a range of issues.
By supporting you in seeing the world, these glasses can make focusing easier.
Explanation of ADHD Glasses
ADHD glasses can use blue-blocking lenses.
These lenses filter out blue light, which is a significant part of the light spectrum that can cause eye strain and interfere with sleep.
By blocking this blue light, the glasses help reduce the strain on the eyes.
Blue light is everywhere, from the sun to our digital screens.
For someone with ADHD, this constant exposure can make it harder to unwind at bedtime.
Blue-blocking lenses create a more comfortable visual experience by filtering out excessive blue light and allowing the eyes to relax.
This way, people can process visual information more easily, leading to better focus and reduced eye strain.
Major Uses of ADHD Glasses
ADHD glasses aren't just for reducing blue light. Lenses which treat vertical heterophoria serve other purposes:
- Improving Focus: By correcting misalignment, these glasses help the brain focus better on tasks at hand.
- Reducing Eye Strain: Filtering out harmful blue light reduces the strain on the eyes, making it easier to work on computers or read for long periods.
- Possible other benefits: Some find they feel calmer, steadier on their feet, and hold less tension in their bodies, particularly the neck area.
Reducing Eye Strain and Other Physical Ailments
Binocular vision dysfunction (BVD) isn't just about discomfort; it can lead to other physical issues like headaches, neck pain, and even vertigo.
Vertical heterophoria is a type of BVD that occurs when one eye is slightly higher than the other, causing misalignment.
Microprisms correct this alignment, which can significantly reduce physical discomfort.
For many, this means fewer headaches and less neck pain, making it easier to focus on tasks without being sidetracked by physical ailments.
Interestingly, not every optometrist is trained in diagnosing or treating vertical heterophoria.
I myself embarked on this journey after learning about the connection with ADHD from René Brooks' post “Vertical Heterophoria: The ADHD Related Eye Condition You've Never Heard Of” from her blog, blackgirllostkeys.com.
Benefits of ADHD Glasses
ADHD glasses aren't just a visual aid; they are a tool that can significantly enhance the quality of life for those dealing with ADHD.
These glasses offer a range of benefits that go beyond just improving vision.
Better Sleep
One of the significant benefits of ADHD glasses is their ability to improve sleep patterns and circadian rhythms.
People with ADHD often struggle with sleep disorders, and one contributing factor can be blue light.
This type of light, emitted from digital screens and artificial lighting, can interfere with your body's natural sleep cycle.
ADHD glasses can have blue light-blocking lenses. By filtering out this harmful light, you might experience:
- Better Sleep: Reducing blue light exposure helps your body produce more melatonin, the sleep hormone, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.
- Improved Circadian Rhythms: Your body's internal clock or circadian rhythm gets a reset, helping you wake up feeling more refreshed and balanced.
Enhanced Attention and Focus
Perhaps the most compelling benefit of ADHD glasses is their ability to enhance attention and focus.
For someone with ADHD, maintaining concentration is an ongoing battle. ADHD glasses may help address this issue by:
- Improving Attention Difficulties: By reducing glare, blurriness, or movement, these glasses help you keep your focus on the task at hand, making it easier to complete assignments or projects.
- Boosting Executive Function: Executive functions like planning, organizing, and remembering instructions become more manageable when visual distractions are minimized. ADHD glasses help streamline these cognitive processes, making daily tasks less daunting.
In summary, ADHD glasses offer a multi-faceted approach to helping to manage ADHD symptoms.
From better sleep to enhanced attention and focus, these glasses provide a practical solution for improving the quality of life for individuals with ADHD.
Of course, every person is different.
The amount of benefit one person may feel from specialized lenses is likely not the same as what another may experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Curious about ADHD glasses and how they can improve the lives of those with ADHD? You're not alone.
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you understand more about these innovative glasses.
Vision is only one part of the ADHD management puzzle. As always, please check with your doctor for more information.
What are the symptoms of ADHD-related vision problems?
ADHD-related vision problems often go under the radar but can significantly affect daily life. Symptoms include:
- Double Vision: Seeing two images instead of one.
- Headaches: Frequent headaches, especially after reading or screen time.
- Eye Strain: Tired eyes after short periods of concentration.
- Difficulty Tracking: Losing place frequently while reading.
These symptoms can make reading and focusing on tasks even harder.
How do blue-blocking glasses help with ADHD?
Blue-blocking glasses filter out harmful blue light from screens and artificial lighting. Here's how they help:
- Reduce Eye Strain: Less strain means fewer headaches and more comfort.
- Improve Focus: Minimizing distractions makes it easier to concentrate.
- Enhance Visual Comfort: A more relaxed visual field helps your brain process information better.
By addressing these visual stressors, blue-blocking glasses may make it easier to stay focused on tasks.
Can ADHD glasses improve sleep patterns?
Yes, ADHD glasses can help improve sleep patterns.
They do this by blocking blue light, which can interfere with your body's natural sleep cycle. Benefits include:
- Better Sleep Quality: More melatonin production means better sleep.
- Enhanced Circadian Rhythms: A more natural sleep-wake cycle helps you feel more rested and focused.
Wearing ADHD glasses, especially in the evening, can help you fall asleep faster and wake up feeling more refreshed.
Are there any side effects of using ADHD glasses?
ADHD glasses are generally safe, but some people might experience mild side effects, such as:
- Initial Discomfort: It may take a few days for your eyes to adjust.
- Color Perception Changes: Blue-blocking lenses which are tinted can slightly alter color perception.
Do ADHD glasses work for everyone with ADHD?
ADHD glasses can be very effective, but they might not work for everyone.
Their effectiveness depends on the individual's specific vision issues and how much blue light affects them.
Consulting with an eye care professional can help determine if ADHD glasses are a good fit.
Also, if you struggle with reading and want to try an alternative, I highly recommend using Speechify. Speechify is an amazing app that allows the user to produce instant read alouds from text. It's an AI text to speech tool, and it's available on mobile, as a Chrome extension, or even a desktop app.
I love that you can select the voice you prefer. This even includes some celebrities!
So if you need a little extra motivation or encouragement, this can really help.
You can use it to read material from websites, pdfs, copy/paste, scans, and more. It really is a very versatile tool.
You can even listen in other languages or accents. They offer 30 languages and 14 country-based options.
Although the price makes it more of an investment, I do feel that it is honestly worth it, depending on how much you read (or avoid reading). And there is a free trial to consider.
Key Takeaways
ADHD glasses can be a powerful tool for improving focus and reducing eye strain.
They offer unique benefits like blocking blue light and adjusting vision misalignments.
These features can lead to better sleep, reduced headaches, and enhanced attention.
Consulting with a vision specialist is crucial. They can help identify if ADHD glasses are right for you.
With the right eyewear, managing ADHD becomes easier, leading to a more productive and comfortable life.
Considering ADHD glasses could be a step towards a better, more focused you.
For more tips on neurodivergent teacher accommodations, read the “Top 10 Essential Neurodivergent Teachers Accommodations” round-up!
