Contact lenses Vs Glasses

You have only two choices when it comes to getting your vision corrected. Primarily, it depends on your personal preferences whether you like glasses or contact lenses better. Other factors like comfort, lifestyle, budget, convenience and aesthetics also play their part in your decision-making.

It is hard to assert that which one is better as both of them have their pros and cons in terms of ease of use, vision, and eye health.

 

Benefits of Eyeglasses over Contacts:

There are multiple benefits of glasses over contacts. Eyeglasses require very little maintenance and cleaning. Nothing makes contact with your eyes which decreases the risk of eye infections. They are inexpensive as compared to contacts lenses as they don’t need replacing very often. Moreover, one of the most useful features of the glasses is that they can block some light entering the eyes which offers better vision and increases comfort.

Photochromic lenses, used in eyeglasses are clear at night and indoors, and they automatically get darken in sunlight for comfortable and clear vision in any light. Although there are some contact lenses that block UV rays, photochromic eyeglass lenses block 100% of UV rays and protect the interior and as well as the exterior of the eyes and eyelids.

Glasses can make a brilliant fashion statement. Also, they can play a role as an extension of your personality.

 

Benefits of Contacts over Eyeglasses:

On the other hand, contact lenses have many advantages over glasses as well. They go directly on your eye, so your peripheral vision remains unobstructed. You can take part in outdoor activities and sports without any fear of them falling off or breaking. You can change the colour of your eyes according to your preferences. 

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of both glasses and contacts to help you make a choice.

 

 

Eyeglasses Pros and Cons:

Pros:

1. You don’t have to touch your eyes wearing glasses which reduces the risk of irritation in the eye or developing an eye infection.
2. Glasses won’t exacerbate it if you have dry or sensitive eyes as contacts can.
3. Eyeglasses are inexpensive than contact lenses. Glasses don’t need replacing as much as contact lenses. If your prescription changes over time, you can keep the frame and replace the lenses.
   

   

4. Frames of glasses speak a lot about your style and personality; they are fashionable.
5. Glasses protect your eyes from wind, dust and debris.

Cons:

1. Glasses sit at about half an inch from the eyes which distorts the peripheral vision.
2. Many people report blurry vision and difficulty in focusing on objects at the beginning of using glasses or after changing prescriptions.
3. Some people feel glasses hide their facial features and detract their facial aesthetics.
4. The edges of the lenses appear thick for the strong prescription which is quite unappealing. Also, these lenses make your eyes unnaturally magnified.
5. Eyeglasses can be affected by environmental factors like wind, fog, and dust. Your view can be obstructed by precipitation collecting on the lenses.
6. Some frames can be uncomfortable exerting constant pressure on the nose and ears.

 

Contact Lenses Pros and Cons:

Pros:

1. Contact lenses perfectly fit the curvature of the eye which offers a wider field of view with less vision obstruction and distortion than glasses.
2. You can play sports and exercise while wearing contact lenses.
3. You don’t have to worry about matching lenses with what you are wearing.
4. Environment or weather does not affect contacts and they don’t get fogged up in cold weather like glasses.
5. You can experiment with different eye colours and wear coloured lenses to match your dress. Also, you can wear special-effect contacts to match your fancy dress or Halloween costume.
6. Some contact lenses reshape your cornea during sleep. Some contacts temporarily correct myopia overnight for one day.

Cons:

1. For some people, it is hard to apply contact lenses on their eyes 
2. Contact lenses block the oxygen from reaching your eye which can cause dry eye syndrome or increase its severity.
3. For people whose work involves looking at a computer screen, contact lenses can contribute to computer vision syndrome.
4. Contact lenses need a proper lens and lens case care and cleaning every day. For those who cannot commit to the care guidelines, they can consider daily disposable lenses.
5. If you forget to take contacts off before going to bed, your eyes will be gritty, dry, irritated and red in the morning. 

 

Due to many advances in contact lens technology, many people have started to prefer wearing contact lenses over eyeglasses as their primary form of vision correction.

The decision of choosing between contacts or glasses depends greatly on personal preferences.

If you choose to wear contacts full-time, you should also keep a pair of glasses in case you need to give your eyes a break.