Glasses vs. Contact Lenses

Some people who have worn eyeglasses for years have already made the switch to contact lenses. Others remain hesitant because they’re not sure what life will be like wearing contacts after years of wearing spectacles. Here are a few simple comparisons you can make to determine if contact lenses are right for you. If you’re still undecided, talk to your eye care professional or FIND A DOCTOR at yourlens.com.

Contact lenses and eyeglasses both correct vision and both are lifestyle decisions

Some people think they look better wearing eyeglasses and some don’t, which at the very least makes the decision of ‘eyeglasses or contact lenses’ one of fashion and self-esteem, despite the added value of convenience that contact lenses offer wearers. Then again, some people find that changing eye color through wearing contacts is just what they need to feel good about their vision correction needs. Keep in mind that contact lenses, unlike eyeglasses, match EVERYTHING you wear!

Both contact lenses and eyeglasses require careful handling and cleaning

Eyeglass wearers know that spectacles need to be sprayed and wiped constantly throughout the day to ensure good vision. Contact lenses require maintenance in varying degrees, depending on whether you wear daily disposable contact lenses, monthly disposable or gas permeable lenses, which are particularly fast and easy to clean.

Contact lenses and eyeglasses can both correct astigmatism

More and more people are finding out that they have an irregular cornea shape that distorts their natural vision, better known as astigmatism. Contact lenses can correct astigmatism just as well, if not better than, eyeglasses, since contact lenses sit directly on the surface of the eye. Many contact lens wearers have switched to gas permeable contacts to correct their astigmatism.

Contact lenses are just as affordable as eyeglasses

Due to advances in technology and materials, contact lenses aren’t as expensive as they used to be. At the end of the day, both contact lenses and eyeglasses cost about the same on an annual basis and both have their advantages and disadvantages.

The majority of contact lens wearers who have switched over from wearing eyeglasses rarely go back to wearing spectacles.

UV Contact Lenses

Many contact lenses today incorporate a UV blocker component that cuts back on the amount of Ultra Violet rays that penetrate the eye’s natural optic lens. Although some contacts contain what’s called ‘visibility tint’ to make them easier to see in solution, this tint is not to be confused with contact lenses specifically designed to filter out UV rays.

The UV blocker component cannot be seen when handling UV lenses and it’s important for wearers to know that UV contact lenses are not a substitute for the UV protection offered by sunglasses, as contact lenses do not cover the entire eye.

Am I too old or young to wear contact lenses?

Contact lenses can correct the vision of people of all ages, provided no physical conditions prevent contacts from being worn safely and comfortably. Contact lenses are often prescribed to seniors after cataract surgery and are ideal for those suffering from mid-life presbyopia (the ability to clearly focus on objects that are near).

Some seniors have abandoned their bifocals for progressive contact lenses, which for many offer a superior range of sight and ease of maintenance, especially in the case of daily disposable progressive contact lenses.

Can children be too young to wear contact lenses?

Eye care professionals face this question every day-and the answer varies depending on the child’s eye health, the level of responsibility a child can handle regarding proper contact lens handling and care and, most importantly, a child’s  personal hygiene habits.

The biggest problem children face when wearing contact lenses is that they may be too young to understand the importance of compliance. They may take risks in handling their contact lenses or letting their friends handle them, impeding contact lens performance and creating risks to eye health.