If you wear glasses, you will know how difficult it can be to take part in your favorite activities without them causing some kind of issue. Going swimming, playing sports, and riding roller coasters are just a few examples where your glasses can be more of a hindrance than a help.
If they’re not falling off your face, they’re being covered in water, obscuring your view of everything in front of you.
At least you can still play video games, right? Well, for the most part this is correct, and you can play a wide variety of games without any glasses-related problems. However, if you want to join the growing community of virtual reality gamers, the same might not be true.
After all, you will need to wear a VR headset - these can be clunky and fit tightly to your head, leaving little room for anything else inside.
Whilst you should theoretically be able to wear your glasses comfortably in conjunction with any headset, this is not always the case. Many do not have enough space for frames protruding from your head, particularly if your glasses have a bulky design.
This means that you are left with the choice of wearing your glasses anyway and ending up with marks on your face where they have dug in, or taking them off and not being able to see properly. Either way, your immersion in the exciting VR experience will be disrupted.
Thankfully, there are some VR headsets available that are perfectly suited to glasses wearers. These have plenty of space around the eyes and don’t have additional parts that could interfere with your glasses or knock them out of place.
The headset we recommend the most is the PS VR, which we discuss in depth below. We also describe some other options of great virtual reality headsets you can wear your glasses with.
Best VR Headset For Glasses
OUR TOP PICK
The Playstation VR headset is designed for use with your Playstation console. This spacious unit allows you to wear any style of glasses in comfort, so you don’t have to worry about if yours are too big.
You can even adjust the inside part so that it will fit thicker frames. Most of the headset’s weight is supported by your forehead, so it feels nicely secure and snug without making your frames dig in.
This headset is widely considered by glasses wearers to be the most comfortable option for their optical needs.
The PS VR headset contrasts with many other headsets, which can feel cramped and don’t always have a way to create more space if you need it. This means you can set it up exactly as you need it to maximize your enjoyment.
Sit back, relax, and escape into your favorite virtual reality.
Pros
- The 1080p display produces a crisp, high-quality picture with a speed of 120 frames per second.
- Compatible with the PS4 system and doesn’t need any additional hardware or software to be able to play, unlike similar headsets that have to be used with an appropriate PC. Setup is quick and easy, so you can plug it in and get stuck right in.
- There are 9 LEDs placed at certain points around the headset, which help to maintain accuracy in the world you enter.
- The PS VR headset can also be connected to the more modern PS5 console, allowing you to enjoy the same games but with even better quality.
- You can hear sounds from all directions with innovative 3D audio technology.
- The built-in microphone facilitates chatting with your friends and other players during games, letting you become fully immersed in the narrative.
- A range of controllers is available for use with the PS VR, so you can choose one that is best for your needs and the specific game you’re playing. Or, you can purchase more than one for greater flexibility.
Cons
- This headset must be used in conjunction with a PS4 Camera, which tracks the headset’s position via sensors. You should also have Move controllers for best results. You can purchase a bundle containing the headset plus these items, or you can just buy the headset separately.
- The PS VR is towards the higher end of the price bracket for virtual reality headsets, though still less so than similar big name brands.
- The technology used in the development of the PS VR is not as advanced as that in some of the other, more modern virtual reality headsets. There is a new PS headset design due to come out soon that will likely accommodate glasses, so it may be worth waiting for that to be available.
EDITORS CHOICE
Glasses were factored into the design of this headset and so it can accommodate most glasses, with almost as much internal space as the PS VR.
It is more front-heavy than the PS VR, which means that it puts slightly more pressure on your temples, but overall offers a solid option for glasses wearers with general usage.
You can calibrate the settings of the HTC Vive to match your own interpupillary distance, or IPD. Your IPD is the measurement of space between the middle of each pupil in your eyes, which you should be able to find out from your optometrist.
The headset has a dial on the front - simply turn it until you achieve the clearest picture quality possible.
This feature sets the HTC Vive apart from other virtual reality headsets in terms of its functionality for glasses wearers.
Pros
- Designed to be fine for use with the majority of glasses, excluding only those with very large or bulky frames.
- The interpupillary distance can be easily adjusted with a dial, and works within the range of 60.2mm to 74.5mm.
- It creates virtual reality spaces as large as 15 feet by 15 feet, giving you the freedom to explore your worlds in an active way. In addition to walking, you can jump, duck and perform other actions, which opens up a wealth of possibilities within the game.
Cons
- The HTC Vive must be used with a PC for it to work, and you can find the specifications it should have here. These specs may be higher than what you have in your regular PC if you don’t already have one designed for gaming.
- The way its weight is distributed can sometimes cause the headset to press down at your temples. This can affect your comfort over prolonged periods of usage.
- The manufacturer does not give an indication of exactly what measurements of glasses will not be compatible with the headset - it is worth looking online for product reviews to give you a better idea of how big your glasses can be.
- This is another VR headset that comes with a higher price tag, so may not be a realistic choice for those on a budget.
BEST VALUE
The Oculus Quest 2 is based on similar technology to the Oculus Rift, which was one of the first and best virtual reality headsets on the market before it was discontinued.
Its development represents the newest advances Oculus has made in the field of VR, so it is the company’s most exceptional system yet.
The performance speed and graphics are upgraded from previous models, offering you a virtual reality experience that you won’t forget.
All Oculus VR products have additional space factored in for glasses, but they do specify a size range of glasses that will fit with them.
The frames of your glasses should be a maximum of 142mm (5.6 inches) wide and 50mm (2 inches) tall. The headset comes with an eyeglass spacer to extend the space where your glasses fit.
Unlike the Oculus Rift, the Oculus Quest 2 requires only a smartphone, a WiFi connection, and the Oculus app, which you can download for free.
You don’t have to have a gaming PC for it to work, but you can connect it to one if you want to explore the full library of associated Oculus content.
Pros
- The Oculus Quest 2 is an upgrade on the Oculus Rift, sharing all of its best features while improving on the overall quality.
- The Oculus content library includes a whole range of games and worlds to enjoy, and you can still play all your favorite titles that were available with earlier Oculus systems.
Cons
- You must buy a separate Oculus Link cable if you want to connect your headset to a suitable PC, as it is not included in the main purchase.
RUNNER UP
If you’re after a VR headset that is a little more affordable but still has excellent functionality, look no further than the Homido V2. This headset is well-padded, with plenty of room inside to fit your glasses for comfort and ease of use.
The strap mechanism fastens the unit securely around the sides and across the top of your head so it doesn’t slip down during gameplay.
Instead of a PC, this headset is used in conjunction with your mobile phone, making it portable for use anywhere. All you have to do is slot your phone into the unit so it sits securely, then enjoy the game.
You also have access to your screen via an action button, which many mobile-based VR headsets don’t have - this means you can interact with your phone without taking it out of the headset entirely.
Pros
- You can use your Homido V2 headset for hours at a time without experiencing any discomfort, as it was designed for extended playing sessions. This means you won’t need to take breaks to prevent soreness, which would disrupt your immersion in the world.
- It is compatible with almost every smartphone, so you don’t need to purchase any special hardware to use it. The only software required is the VRCenter app, which you can download on Android and iOS systems.
- The headset allows you to adjust the interpupillary distance as well as the object distance, so you can tailor the focus to your individual needs. There is no need to worry if you have an unusual prescription, as the picture can be tweaked at the touch of a button.
- The Homido V2 is a budget headset, making it accessible to most people who want to experience virtual reality without spending a fortune.
- It comes with a carrying case, so you can take it anywhere without worrying that it will get damaged in transit.
Cons
- Although it is compatible with most smartphones, your phone screen needs to be no smaller than 4.7 inches and no bigger than 6 inches to fit properly.
- Headsets that you use with a mobile phone rather than a PC have lower picture quality, as the number of pixels available is limited. The Homido V2 has a minimum resolution requirement of 720 pixels.
Virtual Reality for People with Glasses - A How To Guide
VR headsets can be a nightmare for glasses wearers to navigate, as it is difficult to know what to look out for if you’re new to using them. Here are our best tips for getting the most out of virtual reality when you have an eye prescription.
Choose spacious headsets
Look for headsets that are roomy inside and easily adjustable, so you can choose how much space there is around your eyes. Anything that is too tight will be uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time, so will be likely to distract you and stop you being fully immersed in the game.
Certain headsets, such as the PS VR, have a different fitting mechanism from the more common series of straps around the head - this is known as a ‘halo’ design and positions the screen to sit away from the face more.
Therefore, the area directly in front of your eyes is freed up to allow ample room for your glasses.
Measure your glasses
Some headsets require glasses to fall within a certain size range for them to be compatible. It is a good idea to measure your glasses before purchasing any headset, so you can make sure they will fit properly.
Many modern glasses have large frames according to current trends, so if you own a pair that are particularly big, you might have issues here. The majority of regular glasses should be fine.
Loosen the straps
Whenever you put your VR headset on, make sure you undo the straps as far as they will go, to give you enough room to have your glasses resting comfortably on your head. With any attachments out of the way, bring the headset to your head from the front end first, being careful not to rush.
Once it is in place, you can then tighten the straps to your desired fit, rather than trying to arrange your glasses underneath a unit that is already fixed in position.
Try without glasses
You may not have to wear glasses at all with your headset, depending on what sort of prescription you have. The general rule is that if you need help to see things 2 meters away, you will still need some way to correct your eyesight while using VR.
This is because virtual reality shows everything as it would appear from 2 meters in the real world. If 2 meters is a reasonable distance for you to see usually, you could likely use your headset without glasses and not face issues.
As a guide, short-sighted people whose prescription is -1.00 or weaker should be fine, as well as long-sighted people who can clearly see at a distance.
Alternatively, contact lenses are a really useful option to have when it comes to VR headsets. Many people who need eye correction prefer contacts anyway, and a large proportion of those who wear glasses usually will have some disposable contact lenses they can wear at certain times to give them more flexibility.
You might consider getting some for use with your headset if you don’t have any already, although they can be a hassle to insert and take out.
Try lens inserts
If you’re really having trouble wearing your normal glasses with your VR headset, and you don’t get on with contact lenses, there is another option available.
Prescription lens inserts are separate lenses that can be clipped into the headset, eliminating the need for arms or frames.
They are curved towards your eye so that the glass doesn’t come into contact with the screen and the picture on the screen isn’t distorted, both of which can happen with regular glasses.
Sometimes things appear blurry when you look at them from a close range, because your eyes cannot automatically adapt to information they are receiving. Prescription lenses adjust the light coming off the screen to make the picture look further away.
Whatever your prescription, you can get these lenses specifically made for your eyes. They are relatively expensive, but they do ensure a comfortable experience without the risk of damaging your normal glasses.
I want to share my passion for VR gaming with others through Moggles. This site is dedicated to providing others with all of the information they need to know about VR. From the best zombie games, the most suitable headsets, and how to successfully mod games, we have got you covered.
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