What Are Prism Glasses? | Eyes For Life Spokane

Learn how prism glasses help treat BVD symptoms at Eyes For Life in Spokane, WA.

Treating Eye Misalignment and Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD)

When your eyes are slightly misaligned, they send two different images to your brain. Your brain struggles to fuse these images together, forcing your eye muscles to work overtime. This strain often leads to symptoms like dizziness, migraines, car sickness, light sensitivity, and neck or shoulder pain.

While a small number of people with BVD experience double vision (diplopia), the majority do not. Even without seeing double, patients can suffer from significant daily symptoms caused by eye muscle strain.

What are prism lenses?

Prism lenses are specially crafted to correct eye misalignment by redirecting the incoming light rays so that your brain perceives a single, aligned image.
Essentially, they “trick” the brain into thinking your eyes are properly aligned, relieving the strain caused by BVD.

Prism correction is built right into your regular glasses prescription — and prism glasses look no different than standard lenses. However, they can significantly reduce the debilitating symptoms of BVD.

Prisms are measured in units called diopters and can be prescribed in various directions (horizontal, vertical, or oblique).
In the past, prisms were often prescribed in large increments (like 1 or 2 diopters), which sometimes left patients feeling disoriented.

Today, using research pioneered by the NeuroVisual™ Medicine Institute, we prescribe microprisms — small fractional prisms (like 0.25D, 0.75D, or 1.25D) — to correct even subtle misalignments with much greater precision and comfort.

What is it like to wear prism glasses?

Adapting to prism glasses is a process, but the results can be life-changing.
At first, your body will begin what we call Progressive Relaxation — a gradual unwinding of the tension your eyes and muscles have been holding.

Most patients at Eyes For Life Spokane notice symptoms begin to ease within a few days.
However, after 2 to 4 weeks of wearing your prism glasses, you may notice symptoms slowly returning. This is normal and signals it’s time for your next appointment — the Progress Assessment.

During this follow-up visit, we’ll remeasure your eye alignment. As your visual system relaxes, your prism prescription often shifts slightly. That’s why we always tell patients: your first prism prescription is rarely your final one. Fine-tuning ensures your vision stays aligned and symptoms continue improving over time.

Who can prescribe microprisms?

While any optometrist can prescribe prism lenses, few are specially trained to fit and fine-tune microprism lenses accurately.

At Eyes For Life, Dr. Maier has undergone advanced training through the NeuroVisual™ Medicine Institute, making her one of the few specialists in the Spokane region equipped to diagnose and treat Binocular Vision Dysfunction with microprisms.

What Are the Side Effects of Wearing Prism Glasses?

Like adjusting to any new glasses, it’s common to experience slight eye strain or visual awareness for the first few days.
If a prism prescription is slightly off or if your glasses frames aren’t fitted properly, symptoms can temporarily worsen.
If this happens, contact our Spokane office immediately so we can adjust your frames or prescription as needed.

Our team is committed to making sure your microprism glasses deliver the relief you deserve.

Find Out If Prism Glasses Could Help You

If you’ve been struggling with unexplained dizziness, headaches, balance issues, or reading challenges, prism glasses may be the answer.

Take the first step toward relief.

Take Our Free 5-Minute BVDQ™ Self-Test Today!