My optometrist definitely said that I would not end up with worse vision overall, but that my vision would get worse faster. So per my optometrist, glasses do make it worse by my criteria (but not by hers).
That is behind a paywall. Equivalent sites I looked at did not cite studies, frequently depending on an argument from theory. For example, one quoting an optometrist: "'Your actual prescription is based on the anatomy of the eye: the front curve of the cornea, the refractive power of the intraocular lens, and the length of the eyeball.' And peering through spectacles won’t change that anatomy".
But this study shows that at least the kind of glasses one wears can change the progression of myopia, so arguments from theory are unconvincing to me: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22161388/
I have no idea what the actual truth is here. It seems like a variety of opinions abound, although everybody seems to agree the phenomenon of feeling like things are worse when you've recently worn glasses is real. So in this case I'll continue go with what works for me: generally not wearing glasses except when driving, which is the only place it makes a practical difference for me.
