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Whether it’s the HTC Vive or the Meta Quest 3 – for those who wear glasses, the question arises as to whether these devices can be worn over normal glasses.
Using VR headsets whilst wearing glasses: What you need to know
Of course, the developers of the various VR headsets are well aware that many people rely on regular glasses. That’s why, in principle, all headsets are designed to fit comfortably over regular glasses. You can even enjoy the VR experience without wearing glasses.
- The reason for this is that the VR headset’s screen is positioned directly in front of your eyes. The sharpness of the 3D image can then be adjusted for all types of glasses, which is why sharp vision is possible even with high dioptre prescriptions and despite astigmatism.
- In our test with the Oculus Rift, which features special lenses for short-sighted people, this worked surprisingly well. The image only became blurred during sudden head movements, when the headset shifted and the angle of the display changed.
- However, it is not possible to make a general statement applicable to all spectacle wearers here. It is therefore best to try it out for yourself to see if you can see clearly without your normal glasses.
- If you find it doesn’t quite work without glasses, you can either keep your normal glasses on or use contact lenses. The former is surprisingly comfortable thanks to the large mounts on the VR headsets. If you’re wearing contact lenses, however, you should be careful and remember to blink – your eyes can easily dry out due to the proximity of the screen.
VR headsets for spectacle wearers: these are the best models
You’ll need to test for yourself whether you can see clearly with or without your normal glasses, and whether the VR headset is compatible with your own frames. Nevertheless, we’d like to give you a brief assessment of the most common VR models here:
- Meta Quest 3: Thanks to various VR lens inserts from Zenni, you can use the Meta Quest 3 even without your glasses. However, thanks to the integrated spacer, even glasses with large lenses will fit under the frame. Most people who wear glasses shouldn’t have any problems here.
- PlayStation VR: The Sony headset features a special head harness that shifts the weight to the back of your head. This means nothing presses against your ears or nose, so normal glasses fit perfectly.
- HTC Vive: With the HTC Vive, too, you can adjust the focus to your own preferences using a control. Furthermore, this model also offers sufficient space between your eyes and the display, so standard glasses shouldn’t pose a problem.
