Whether you choose to resolve your vision with eyeglasses or contact lenses, it is primarily a matter of preference. Your decision should take into account your lifestyle, comfort, ease, budget, and aesthetic appeal.
Eyeglasses have a number of advantages over contact lenses. They are easier to clean and maintain, don’t require touching your eyes to wear (reducing the risk of infection), and are less expensive in the long run than contact lenses because they don’t need to be replaced frequently.
Instead of replacing the entire eyeglass, you can get new lenses for old frames. Brands like Overnight glasses, Replace Rx Lenses, Lens Direct, and a lot more help you get your lenses changed.
Similarities between the Use of Contacts and Eyeglasses
1. Correction of Refractive Errors
Most vision problems can be corrected with both eyeglasses and contact lenses. Many people believe that problems like astigmatism can only be corrected with glasses, but they can also be remedied with contact lenses. Hence, you can use both alternatively or use either of them according to your choice.
2. Handling & Cleaning
Both eyeglasses and contact lenses require careful cleaning and handling. You must spray and wipe your eyeglasses several times a day, and depending on the type of contact lenses you are wearing; you must take different levels of care. However, cleaning eyeglasses needs less care than contact lenses.
Advantages of Eyeglasses
1. Provide Comfort
Eyeglasses are a convenient solution for corrective eyewear. Your skilled optometrist will assist you in selecting a pair that will provide you with a clear vision and improved visual comfort throughout the day.
2. Easy to Handle
Maintaining your eyeglasses is a small task. Disinfect them with lukewarm tap water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid, then clean them with a lint-free towel or microfiber cloth.
3. Provide Protection to Eyes
Eyeglasses can provide protection to your eyes from drying winds, dust, and other foreign particles, making them an effective method to protect your eyes from discomfort.
Disadvantages of Eyeglasses
They can distort your vision if you have a strong prescription or astigmatism, especially at the lens’ edge. You might be bothered by the weight of the glasses on your nose or the pressure on your ears. Some people dislike how they look when wearing glasses. Many people find progressive lenses challenging to adjust to.
In the rain, the lenses can fog up and become splattered. For sports or other activities, they might not be the best option. If eyeglasses are not correctly cared for, they can be broken or lost.
Advantages of Contact Lenses
1. Ideal for Corneal Problems
The majority of contact lenses are made to correct refractive errors like astigmatism, farsightedness, and nearsightedness. There are also specialized lenses designed to meet specific requirements. Scleral lenses, for example, have a larger diameter and are therefore ideal for people who have irregular corneas.
2. Enhances Eye Comfort
To maintain eye health and comfort, contact lenses are now available in a variety of materials. Hybrid contact lenses, for example, combine the best characteristics of rigid and soft lenses. Their long-lasting lens center keeps your vision clear, while their soft lens skirt minimizes any visual discomfort.
3. Wide Visual Access
You’ll have unlimited central and peripheral vision because contact lenses are directly applied to your cornea. Contact lenses have also been associated with fewer image distortions and glare reflections.
4. Provide a Sense of Normalcy
When you wear contact lenses, you get a sense of normalcy. You have the freedom to go about your daily tasks or hobbies because they are securely applied to your eyes. Splashes of water, fog, or steam will not affect your vision, making them ideal for any weather.
Disadvantages of Contacts
1. Hard to Handle
Contact lenses are small objects that can be easily damaged or misplaced. It takes a lot of practice to get used to balancing the lens on the tip of your finger and then placing it in your eye without it falling out.
Some people adjust quickly, while others find it uncomfortable and never get used to it. This may deter some people from wearing contact lenses.
2. Expensive
A pair of eyeglasses is costly, but they will last for several years, making them cost-effective in the long run. However, because many types of contact lenses have a limited lifespan, they must be replaced regularly.
3. Can Cause Eye Infection
There is a chance that the lens will scratch the cornea, which can happen with poorly fitting lenses—wearing contact lenses while sleeping and not taking care when inserting or removing them can also cause this. If dust or debris becomes trapped under the lens, it can also cause a scratch.
Conclusion
Due to the advancement in contact lens technology, most people can wear contacts successfully these days, even if they prefer to correct their vision with glasses as their primary means.
As a result, deciding whether or not to wear contacts and when to do so is usually a personal decision. It is important to know that if you wear contact lenses full-time, you should also have a current pair of eyeglasses on hand if you need to stop wearing them due to an eye infection or irritation or want to rest your eyes.
