Contact Lenses vs. Eyeglasses: Which Are Best For You?

Choosing to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses for vision correction generally depends on personal preferences, which includes lifestyle, comfort, convenience and budget. One is not necessarily better than the other; each has its advantages and disadvantages in terms of vision, ease of use and eye health. Of course, you don’t always have to choose between glasses and contacts. Some people opt for both depending on the situation or their mood that day. Many vision plans provide either a pair of glasses or a year’s supply of contact lenses each year. Some people who wear both alternate between the two or purchase a smaller quantity of lenses out-of-pocket.

Before deciding between contacts and glasses, keep in mind that one is not necessarily better than the other; each has its pros and cons in terms of vision, ease of use and eye health.

Pros and Cons for Glasses

Glasses are typically the least expensive, easiest and most convenient option for vision correction. Even if you opt for contact lenses, you will probably want a basic pair of glasses to wear if you feel tired or ill and prefer not to touch your eyes.

Benefits of Opting for Glasses

• Ease of use: Glasses are the easiest option, you simply put them on or take them off.
• Fashion-forward: If you like to accessorize, changing the style of your glasses also changes your look. With so many on-trend options some fashionistas choose to purchase a couple of pairs of glasses to coordinate with their outfit and the occasion.
• If you need blue light filtering or UV correction, you may opt for special lenses for additional protection.
• Glasses can help keep your eyes safe in certain working and athletic environments. For example, if you work in a lab or woodshop, we highly recommend that you wear safety glasses while working. If you play sports involving flying balls or debris, like squash, sports glasses or goggles protect your eyes.
• If you are especially light-sensitive you may prefer photochromic lenses that adjust to the presence of UV or other light.

Cons of Wearing Glasses

• Depending on your prescription, some people find that glasses distort their vision, especially around the frame’s edges.
• Glasses tend to steam up or collect droplets of water in the rain.
• Some people just don’t like the way glasses look or feel.

Pros and Cons for Contacts

Contact lenses are available to more people than they were in the past. Some find them an attractive option for a variety of reasons.

Benefits of Opting for Contacts

• For many people, the vision correction from contact lenses feels more natural compared to glasses. Some contact lens wearers are especially impressed with how contacts may improve their peripheral vision since the lenses site directly on the eye.
• Contact lenses are appearance-neutral meaning they don’t alter how you look.
• Contacts don’t fog up or get wet from the rain.
• Have you ever wished your eyes were a different color? With contacts, it is easier to change your eye color than your hair color.

Cons of Wearing Contacts

• In order to apply and remove contacts, you must get comfortable touching the eye. For some people, this is a deal-breaker.
• Good hygiene and cleanliness are crucial when applying, removing, cleaning, and storing contact lenses. Otherwise, you may experience cloudy vision or even eye infection.
• Contact lenses cause dry eyes for some people. Appropriate eye drops help, but some find them uncomfortable to wear.
• If you are a daily lap swimmer, you may find contact lenses less convenient than glasses since you would need to remove them in a clean environment before swimming.

Contact Lenses, Eyeglasses… Or Both?

Thanks to advances in contact lens technology, most people these days can wear contacts successfully, even if they prefer to wear glasses as their primary form of vision correction.

So the decision to wear either contacts or glasses — and when to wear them — usually is a matter of personal preference.

Alternating between glasses and contacts truly gives you the best of both worlds. Each kind of eyewear compensates for the drawbacks of the other, and gives you the flexibility to do whatever you’d like during the day with the clearest vision possible.

At SightMD, we recommend that everyone have a comprehensive eye examination annually or according to your prescribed schedule. This is not only to keep your prescription current, but it is also to make an early diagnosis of any developing vision health issues like glaucoma. Sometimes these conditions show no noticeable symptoms initially, but an early diagnosis helps maintain your vision and your health. Contact us today to schedule an annual vision exam.