SHAW Lenses
What Are SHAW Lenses?
Standard eyeglasses correct how clearly you see by bending light to focus sharply on your retina. SHAW lenses go a step further by addressing how well your two eyes align and coordinate with each other.
These lenses incorporate horizontal or vertical prisms that shift images slightly so both eyes can merge them into a single, comfortable picture. While regular glasses help you see clearly, SHAW lenses help you see comfortably and without strain.
Prisms in SHAW lenses bend light before it enters your eye, moving the image to where your eyes naturally want to look. Horizontal prisms help when your eyes tend to drift inward or outward, while vertical prisms correct upward or downward misalignment.
- Horizontal prisms adjust side-to-side eye positioning
- Vertical prisms correct up-and-down alignment issues
- Your prescription may include both types of prism correction
- The strength is measured in prism diopters
We may recommend SHAW lenses for a range of binocular vision disorders. These conditions occur when your eye muscles or the brain pathways that control eye movement do not coordinate properly.
- Convergence insufficiency, where eyes struggle to turn inward for close work
- Vertical imbalances causing one eye to aim higher or lower than the other
- Eye teaming problems after brain injury or stroke
- Misalignment that develops with age or following certain neurological conditions
Signs You May Benefit from SHAW Lenses
If you notice two overlapping images when looking at your phone, computer, or a book, your eyes may not be aiming at the same spot. This symptom often worsens with prolonged near work and can make reading slow and frustrating.
The double vision may be constant or may come and go depending on how tired you are or how long you have been focusing up close. SHAW lenses can realign the images so you see a single, stable picture.
Struggling to keep your eyes aligned requires extra effort from your eye muscles and brain. Over time, this strain can lead to headaches that feel like pressure around your eyes, temples, or forehead.
You may also notice your eyes feel tired or sore after reading or screen time. These symptoms often improve dramatically once we correct the underlying alignment problem with prism lenses.
Good depth perception depends on both eyes working together to give your brain accurate distance information. When alignment is off, you might misjudge distances or feel clumsy reaching for objects.
- Bumping into doorframes or furniture
- Difficulty parking or judging space while driving
- Missing when you try to grab or place items
- Feeling unsteady on stairs or uneven surfaces
If words seem to jump around on the page or you lose your place frequently while reading, your eyes may be drifting out of alignment. This can make it hard to concentrate on detailed tasks or follow along with written material.
Children and adults with this symptom often avoid reading or take much longer to complete assignments. Correcting the alignment with SHAW lenses can make close work feel easier and more natural.
Many people unconsciously tilt or turn their head to compensate for vertical or rotational eye misalignment. This posture may help you see a single image, but it puts stress on your neck and shoulder muscles.
Chronic neck pain or a persistent head tilt can be a red flag for a binocular vision problem. Once we prescribe the right prism correction, you may find you no longer need to hold your head at an awkward angle.
Understanding Your Risk for Binocular Vision Problems
Even a mild concussion can disrupt the brain pathways that control eye movement and alignment. After a head injury, you may develop new problems with double vision, reading, or balance that were not present before.
SHAW lenses are often an important part of recovery for patients with post-concussion vision issues. We work closely with other members of your healthcare team to address both the vision and neurological aspects of your injury.
A stroke can affect the nerves or brain centers responsible for coordinating your eyes. Depending on the location and severity, you might experience sudden double vision or difficulty moving your eyes in certain directions.
- Damage to cranial nerves that control eye muscles
- Lesions in areas of the brain that process visual information
- Conditions like multiple sclerosis or myasthenia gravis that affect muscle control
- Tumors or other masses that press on vision pathways
Convergence insufficiency means your eyes have trouble turning inward together when you look at something close. This common condition can run in families and often becomes noticeable during school years or when reading demands increase.
Other eye teaming disorders involve problems with how smoothly your eyes track moving objects or how quickly they shift focus between distances. SHAW lenses can reduce the effort required and improve comfort during everyday tasks.
As we get older, the muscles and connective tissues around the eyes can weaken or change in flexibility. Some adults develop a new vertical or horizontal imbalance later in life, even without any injury or disease.
If you notice new symptoms like occasional double vision or eyestrain that was not a problem when you were younger, a comprehensive binocular vision exam can determine whether prism correction might help. Early intervention often prevents symptoms from worsening over time.
Testing and Diagnosis for SHAW Lenses
During your exam, we evaluate not just how clearly each eye sees but also how well your two eyes work as a team. This process includes a detailed history of your symptoms, when they started, and what makes them better or worse.
- Assessing your eye alignment at various distances
- Checking how your eyes move and track together
- Testing your ability to converge and diverge
- Measuring any head tilt or compensatory posture
- Reviewing your overall eye health and any medical conditions
One of the most important tools we use is the cover test, where we cover one eye at a time and watch how the uncovered eye moves. If your eye shifts when we uncover it, that tells us there is a misalignment that your brain has been working to hide.
We perform cover tests at different distances and with different targets to map out exactly where and how much your eyes are misaligned. This information helps us calculate the precise prism prescription you need.
We use a device called a phoropter or trial frame to test different prism strengths in front of your eyes. You will look at a target and tell us when the image feels most comfortable and stable.
The goal is to find the lowest prism power that fully compensates for your misalignment. Too little prism will not relieve your symptoms, while too much can create new problems or make your eyes dependent on the correction.
Beyond alignment, we also test how well your eyes focus and how smoothly they follow moving objects. These tests help us understand the full picture of your binocular vision and whether other therapies might complement your SHAW lenses.
- Near point of convergence to see how close you can maintain single vision
- Vergence ranges to measure your flexibility in changing eye position
- Accommodative facility to assess focusing speed and stamina
- Stereopsis testing to evaluate your depth perception
How SHAW Lenses Correct Your Vision
A prism is a wedge-shaped piece of material that bends light rays as they pass through. When we place the right prism in front of your eye, it shifts the image just enough so your eye does not have to turn as far to see it.
This reduces the muscular effort and the conflicting signals your brain receives from each eye. Instead of fighting to merge two misaligned images, your brain can relax and process a single, clear picture with much less strain.
Most patients adapt to their new SHAW lenses within a few days to two weeks. At first, straight lines may look slightly curved, or the floor might seem tilted, but these sensations typically fade as your brain recalibrates.
- Start by wearing your lenses for short periods and gradually increase
- You may feel a bit off balance or notice mild dizziness initially
- Colors and distances might seem different until you adjust
- Symptoms like headaches or double vision should improve steadily
- Contact us if discomfort persists beyond the first couple of weeks
In many cases, we recommend combining your prism glasses with a structured vision therapy program. The lenses provide immediate symptom relief, while therapy exercises train your eyes and brain to work together more efficiently over time.
As your eye coordination improves through therapy, we may be able to reduce the amount of prism you need. Some patients eventually transition to weaker prisms or no prism at all, though others benefit from long-term wear.
Eye muscle surgery is sometimes considered for large, constant misalignments, but it carries risks and does not always eliminate the need for glasses. SHAW lenses offer a non-invasive option that can be adjusted as your needs change.
We may recommend prism correction as a first-line treatment, especially if your misalignment varies with fatigue or viewing distance. Surgery may still be considered in specific cases where the misalignment is severe and stable, but many patients prefer the flexibility and safety of optical correction.
If you also need correction for nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, your SHAW lenses will incorporate both the prism and the focusing prescription. Bifocals or progressive lenses can be added as well if you need help seeing at multiple distances.
The lab will carefully position the prism and center the optical zones so everything works together seamlessly. Your final glasses will look much like regular eyewear, with no obvious sign of the prism correction built in.
Daily Care and Long-Term Follow-Up
We often suggest beginning with a few hours per day and slowly increasing your wear time as you adapt. This approach gives your visual system time to adjust without overwhelming you.
Keep a simple log of when you wear your lenses and any symptoms you notice. Bring this information to your follow-up visit so we can fine-tune your prescription or wearing schedule if needed.
Treat your SHAW lenses just like any other eyeglasses. Use a microfiber cloth and lens cleaner designed for coated lenses, and avoid paper towels or rough fabrics that can scratch.
- Rinse under lukewarm water before wiping to remove debris
- Store in a hard case when not wearing them
- Avoid leaving glasses in hot cars or direct sunlight
- Bring them to us for professional adjustments if the frame feels loose
Your first follow-up visit is usually scheduled within a few weeks of receiving your new lenses. We will ask how you are adjusting and recheck your alignment to confirm the prescription is working as intended.
After that, plan on annual exams or more frequent visits if you are undergoing vision therapy. Your prism needs may change over time, especially if you have had a neurological condition or are still recovering from an injury.
Let us know if your original symptoms return or new vision problems develop while wearing your SHAW lenses. These changes can indicate that your eyes have shifted or that your current prism strength is no longer optimal.
- Double vision that was previously controlled now reappears
- Increased headaches or eye fatigue despite wearing your glasses
- Feeling dizzy or off balance when you have your lenses on
- Difficulty reading or focusing that was not there before
Certain symptoms require urgent evaluation because they may signal a serious underlying condition. Contact us or seek emergency care right away if you experience sudden double vision that is different from your baseline, especially if it comes with a severe headache, weakness, slurred speech, or loss of balance.
Rapid changes in vision can sometimes indicate a stroke, aneurysm, or other neurological emergency. While SHAW lenses treat many common alignment problems, new or dramatically worsening symptoms need prompt medical attention to rule out urgent causes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, children with binocular vision disorders can benefit greatly from prism correction, often in combination with vision therapy. Early treatment can improve reading skills, school performance, and overall comfort during learning activities.
Some patients wear prism glasses long term, while others reduce or eliminate the need through vision therapy or natural improvement. Your individual outcome depends on the cause of your misalignment and how your eyes respond to treatment.
Absolutely. We can incorporate prism correction into bifocal, trifocal, or progressive lens designs so you have clear, comfortable vision at all distances without needing multiple pairs of glasses.
Most side effects are mild and temporary, such as slight spatial distortion or brief dizziness during the first few days. Persistent discomfort usually means the prescription needs fine-tuning rather than a true intolerance to prism correction.
Prism lenses are highly effective for many types of binocular misalignment, but they are not a universal solution. Some forms of double vision stem from conditions like cataracts or retinal problems that require different treatments, so a thorough exam is essential to identify the right approach.
Getting Help for SHAW Lenses
If you are experiencing double vision, headaches, or trouble with reading and coordination, a comprehensive binocular vision exam can uncover whether SHAW lenses might help. Our eye doctor will take the time to understand your symptoms, perform detailed testing, and work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that restores comfort and clarity to your daily life.