Glasses vs. Contact Lenses: Which Should You Get?

Optometrists have been asking this question since the invention of contact lenses:

Should I opt for contact lenses over eyeglasses?

The question isn’t so simple as "Should i get blue jeans? or black jeans?" There are many important questions to ask about vision. Costs. Lifestyle.
We'll now dive into the questions, and then we'll dive into answers with a level that should "clarify" the situation.
Yes, contacts should be purchased
There are many reasons to buy and consider contacts, and there are many "ifs".

The sport life

Contact lenses are great for athletes and active people. Contact lenses don't move when you do. When you play, the concerns about wearing glasses disappear. Your contacts won't fall out, break or get in your way.
Contact lenses are also much less intrusive than eyeglasses and won't interfere with any sporting equipment, such as helmets, caps, or goggles.

 

Style

Eyeglasses can be part of your look but they may not be something you are looking to make a fashion statement. Perhaps not. Perhaps ever. Maybe every day.
People who like to enhance their eye makeup often find that glasses are a problem. Some people don't like the way they look in glasses. Your personal style may be enough to make you a contact lens purchaser.

 

Your eyes color

Contact lenses are available in a variety of colors that allow you to alter the look of your eyes.
Temporary color changes are possible, or you can choose to change your look naturally.

 

Fewer hassles

Contact lenses are a popular choice for many people who love to wear them. They claim that certain moments in life can be made easier by not having to deal with glasses. These people say that...

• "Selfies look better--no glare."
• "I can ride rollercoasters without worrying about them getting lost."
• "Glasses can sometimes make my eyebrow line sweat."

 

What about vision quality?

Contacts are the best way to get the vision solution that you require.
However, this does not mean that wearing eyeglasses or having the option of wearing contact lenses at other times and eyeglasses occasionally compromises your vision. Some people say they can see better with contact lenses. Several reasons could explain why:

• Contacts fit comfortably on your eye curve, giving you better focus and a wider field-of-view than glasses.
• Your vision will not be affected by weather conditions like rain and fog.
• Reflections are not a problem.
• You won't have to worry about lenses getting scratched (or the cost of replacing them).

 

Eyeglasses: Why you should choose them

Contact lenses would be the ideal solution for everyone, every time. This isn't the case. You should weigh the pros and cons. These are some reasons you might not want to rely solely on contact lenses:

• Eyeglasses don't have to be touched. Some people have difficulty applying contact lenses, but most get it right away.
• Contacts, on the other hand, require little maintenance.
• Some contact lens users experience dry eye syndrome.
• Contact wearers who fall asleep with contacts experience irritation upon waking up.
• Wearing glasses will ultimately be less costly.
• People simply love wearing glasses.
• Certain types of eyeglass lenses--photochromic--can adjust the amount of light entering your eye to help with comfort and vision. To protect your eyes, photochromic lenses block 100% of the UV rays.
  
  *Note that the FDA approved the first contact lens to include an additive that darkens it when it is exposed to bright sunlight in 2018. Based on the amount UV light that is present, the lenses adjust the amount of visible light that is filtered to the eyes. They also filter blue light and block UV rays.

 

Different types of contact lenses

There are many types of contact lenses. You can find many different types of contacts, and the number of lenses available has increased since the mid-90s.

Based on their materials, there are five types contact lenses. They can be classified as soft, hard, or hybrid.

• Soft lenses were created in the 1970s. These lenses are made from hydrogels, which are water-soluble plastics. They are extremely thin and flexible and conform well to the eye's surface.
• Silicone Hydrogel Lens are the most commonly prescribed lenses in the United States. They are a more advanced type of soft contact lens. Because they are porous than regular hydrogel lenses, they allow for more oxygen to reach the cornea.

 

These two types of soft contacts lenses account for 86% of the U.S. marketplace.

• Gas permeable lens are rigid contact lenses which look and feel similar to PMMA lenses (see below), but they are porous and allow oxygen through them. This makes them more comfortable than traditional hard lenses. This lens is often more sharp than soft contacts, especially for those with astigmatism. Although it may take some time to get used to gas permeable lenses most people find them to be as comfortable as hydrogel ones.
• The hybrid contact lenses offer wear comfort comparable to soft lenses, but the optical benefits and advantages of gas permeable lenses. Hybrid lenses have a central gas permeable zone that is rigid and surrounded by soft lens material. Hybrid lenses are only worn by 2% of Americans because they are more difficult and more costly to fit.
• PMMA lenses may not be obsolete, but they are very rarely used. The lenses are made from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a transparent, rigid plastic material that does not transmit oxygen to your eyes.

 

Are contact lenses right to you?

Contact lenses will be more costly than glasses. They can take longer to adjust to and may require more care from your eye doctor. Contrary to contact lenses, glasses can be worn by all ages.
Contact lenses are extremely popular because of the reasons we have mentioned. Even if contacts are not the primary form of vision correction, most people can use them successfully.
The final decision is yours based on your lifestyle and personal preferences.

 

 

Get the right prescription

Beware of first-time buyers: Contact lens prescriptions do not include the power needed to correct your refractive error.

• These powers may not be the same as those in your eyeglasses.
• Contact lens prescriptions contain additional specifications, which are not found on glasses prescriptions.

Contact lenses can be worn in place of or in addition to eyeglasses. Your optometrist should conduct a content lens examination and fit.