Choosing Between Contact Lenses or Glasses?

If you have been advised that you have a refractive eye error, you will need treatment to correct it so that you can see clearly. There are several different options available, but two of the most common are glasses and contact lenses. But how do you know which is right for you?

Wearing Glasses

Research from The Vision Council suggests that approximately 164 million adults in the United States wear glasses to help them see clearly. Glasses are worn on the face, with the lenses sitting just a centimeter or so in front of the eyes. There are countless different frames to choose from, enabling you to select a shape, color, material, and style to suit your personal tastes and face shape.

The lenses themselves are bespoke, created in the prescription you need to correct your refractive eye error. You can also choose from a range of different lens coatings. Lens coatings serve several purposes. Some, such as scratch-resistant coating, are designed to protect the lenses. Others, such as anti-glare, UV protection, and anti-reflective coatings are designed to optimize your visual comfort and clarity. Your eye doctor will be able to recommend which lens coatings they think would be most valuable to you.

While glasses are extremely popular, there are a few things that you should be aware of when choosing between them and contact lenses.
 

• Glasses are usually less expensive than contact lenses.
   

• They will be visible on your face so they will affect your appearance.
   

• There may be certain activities that you can’t do while wearing glasses, such as swimming and some contact sports.
   

• You will have to remember to take your glasses with you wherever you go and be careful not to lose or break them.
   

• Glasses do need maintenance from time to time.
   

• You may want to change your frames to reflect your changing age and/or style.

Wearing Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are a great alternative to glasses. Worn directly on the surface of the eyes, they also alter the way that light is refracted in order to correct your refractive eye problem and improve your vision. Just like glasses too, there are many different types to choose from, meaning that there is almost certainly a variety to suit you. They range from soft contact lenses that are worn daily and then disposed of, to more rigid lenses that are stored and cleaned overnight before being placed back into your eyes the next day.

Which type of contact lenses are right for you will depend on several factors, ranging from your prescription to the shape and health of your eyes. Your provider will assess these in order to make a recommendation, and you’ll be able to try a generic pair before you commit.

There are a few things to consider when thinking about choosing contact lenses:
 

• They are usually more expensive than glasses, although it’s possible to spread the cost in many cases, which can make contacts more affordable.
   

• It may be hard to wear contact lenses if you suffer from allergies or certain eye problems.
   

• If you suffer from issues such as dry eye, corneal scarring, or allergies, you may be recommended to use a type of specialty contact lens instead.
   

• You have to be extremely conscious of hygiene and care when placing and removing contact lenses.
   

• You can wear contact lenses underneath any sort of sunglasses that you choose and still see clearly.
   

• Contact lenses are a great choice for many athletes since they don’t interfere with their vision or pose a risk of becoming damaged.

In many cases, people choose to enjoy the best of both glasses and contact lenses and opt to use both at different times, depending on their circumstances.

If you would like to know more about glasses or contact lenses, visit Advanced Vision Institute in Las Vegas. Call (702) 819-9800 to schedule an appointment today.