Prioritizing Comfort: How to Use VR if You Wear Glasses
A Guide for Prioritizing Comfort for Glasses Wearers
Virtual reality (VR) has come a long way since Ivan Sutherland developed the Sword of Damocles in 1967. Today, VR headsets are becoming the norm in education. Many schools use VR for various purposes, as our post “The 5 Best Reasons to Implement Experiential Learning in Your Classroom” discusses. For one, it helps students and teachers immerse themselves in real-world scenarios that would help them better understand a concept or lesson. VR also assists in real-life problem-solving since users can “step into the problem” and use their knowledge to formulate solutions.
While VR headsets are beneficial, one thing may hinder their effectiveness in education: discomfort for glasses wearers. Using a VR headset over your glasses can be uncomfortable, hindering learning and enjoyment. To prevent this, here are ways to prioritize comfort as a VR user and glasses-wearing individual:
Change how you’d normally put on a VR headset
Typically, people put on VR headsets over their heads, like how you’d wear a baseball cap. Doing this when you have glasses on can change how your glasses sit on your face and how the headset touches them.
So, instead of putting it on how you usually do, wear the VR headset from front to back. Lay the headset over your glasses and make sure it sits comfortably. Once done, wear the straps around and over your head. Changing how you put on a VR headset prioritizes your comfort while wearing glasses, so you can wear it for longer without experiencing pain or distraction.
Adjust your VR headset accordingly
Your VR headset should remain stable on your head. Otherwise, you’d risk damaging your glasses, hurting yourself, and experiencing cybersickness. A University of Waterloo study on VR and cybersickness revealed that people usually get nauseous and experience eye strain after using a VR headset based on the content they were watching. For example, if it’s a video game involving quick movements, it can make you dizzy because of the fast-changing graphics.
Wearing your glasses might contribute to cybersickness if they constantly move around under the VR headset. So, tighten or loosen the straps for maximum comfort. Move your head around to check if the headset hits your glasses and readjust accordingly. Using VR headsets’ adjustable straps lessens dizziness and potential injuries while wearing glasses.
Make sure your glasses fit properly
Besides adjusting the VR headset, ensure your glasses fit properly. Frames that sit too tightly or loosely on the face can cause discomfort while watching videos or playing educational games. Clearly’s guide on how to adjust your glasses suggests altering the tightness of the temples by putting them in warm water and gently bending them upwards or downwards. You can also change the height of your plastic frames by soaking them in warm water and turning them inwards or outwards. For metal frames, carefully push the nose pads together to sit higher on your face or pull them apart for a lower fit.
When you adjust your glasses to fit properly, you guarantee comfortable VR learning sessions every time.
Consider getting blue light lens coatings
Wearing a VR headset means having a screen close to your eyes. The Canadian Association of Optometrists’ article on blue light reports that this can contribute to daytime fatigue and poor sleep quality after prolonged exposure. This light suppresses melatonin production, so your sleepiness and morning alertness can be affected, preventing you from adequately learning and absorbing information.
That’s why you should consider getting blue light lens coatings on your glasses. These can filter blue light, reducing the amount that affects your eyes. This will be an especially worthy investment if you frequently use a VR headset or have it on for long periods. Protecting your eyes prevents fatigue that can affect your education or teaching abilities.
Wearing glasses comfortably under a VR headset is possible when you alter how you wear the headset and your glasses’ fit. Follow our tips to prioritize comfort while learning and teaching using VR.
