Whether you’re new to vision correction, or you’re wondering whether the grass is greener on the other side, you’ve likely had the two main options presented to you—contacts vs. glasses. The decision between wearing contacts and wearing glasses for vision correction is ultimately a personal one—with your lifestyle, look, budget and more all coming into play. Here, we’ll point out a few pros and cons of contacts vs. glasses to consider as you make your decision.
Wearing glasses for vision correction
Pros
- Ease of use. Putting on eyeglasses is less invasive than applying contacts—and if you’ve ever worn sunglasses, you already know how to do it.
- Low maintenance. Though you may need to wipe the lens here and there, eyeglasses ultimately do not involve as much maintenance as contact lenses, which require proper lens care and storage each day to avoid infection.
- Eye protection. Eyeglasses can serve as physical barriers to debris and dust entering your eyes. You will also likely not be as inclined to touch your eyes as often when wearing glasses.
- Variety of styles. With glasses, there is a wide range of frame styles and colors to fit your individual aesthetic. It’s also easier to switch up your style by owning several pairs.
- Cost effective. In general, since you do not have to change your glasses on a regular basis (considering you do not lose/break them), they can be viewed as more cost effective than contact lenses.
Cons
- Possibility of vision distortion. Because eyeglasses sit about a half inch from your actual eyes, peripheral vision can end up being distorted.
- Cause for discomfort. Glasses fit on your face, and therefore they touch your nose and ears. This can be uncomfortable for some people in need of vision correction.
- Vulnerable to the elements. Glasses are subject to your surroundings. For example, lenses can fog up in wet/cold weather.
- Limited to certain activities. You are typically limited in the activities you can do when relying on eyeglasses. For example, you would not want to wear them when playing high-impact sports like football or soccer, or when swimming.
- Easier to lose. The fact that glasses are not attached to your face means that there is more room for them to get lost—and when you lose them, your vision suffers.
Wearing contacts for vision correction
Pros
- Natural feel. Besides the process of putting them on, (which the majority of wearers quickly get used to) contacts make the person wearing them feel as if they are not using a vision correction aid at all. They also form to the curvature of the eye, which causes fewer vision distortions than glasses can.
- Natural look. Many contact wearers prefer the aesthetics of wearing them over glasses because their presence is not obvious from an outside perspective. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t switch up your look. Contacts come in all colors and even special effects.
- Ease of movement. Unlike glasses, contacts do not get in the way when playing sports or doing any other kind of movement-prone activity.
- Immune to the elements. As compared to glasses, contacts are generally not as affected by weather conditions, meaning they will not fog up when it is cold, for example.
- Not a huge loss. If you lose a pair of glasses that you are attached to, it’ll probably make you a little upset. If you lose a pair of contact lenses, it’s as easy as ordering another pair.
Cons
- Higher maintenance. Wearing contacts is admittedly more involved than wearing eyeglasses. Applying them can be a burden for some (though this is overcome more often than not), but contacts require stringent cleaning and storage to keep oil, debris, makeup and microorganisms from irritating your eyes.
- Cause for irritation. Speaking of eye irritation, because contacts restrict the amount of oxygen reaching your eye, it can lead to dry eye syndrome. Or, if you fall asleep in your contacts, you will likely have dry, red, and/or irritated eyes when you wake up.
- More expensive long-term. You generally need to replace contacts more than you need to replace glasses, and if your prescription changes, you cannot simply replace the lens in a frame like you can with glasses. You also need to take into account the cost of cleaning solutions.
- More difficult to spot. If your glasses fall off, you bend down and pick them up. If you drop a contact lens, it can be much more difficult to detect.
- Uncomfortable to some. Some people simply cannot ever get used to applying and wearing contact lenses, but of course this is on a case-by-case basis.
When it comes to comparing contacts vs. glasses, there is no right or wrong answer. It truly depends on your personal preference and everyday needs. At Mississippi Eye Care, we’ve got you covered either way! Visit us at www.mymseyecare.com to get started.
