Contact Lenses vs Glasses: Which to get?

contact-lenses-vs-glasses-which-to-get

The decision to use contact lenses or eyeglasses to improve your vision primarily comes down to personal judgment. You should consider factors like lifestyle, relaxation, convenience, and aesthetics while making a choice.

Before choosing between lenses and glasses, bear in mind that each has advantages and disadvantages in terms of vision, usability, and eye health.

Overview Of Glasses

There are two categories of eyewear. Multifocal glasses aid with near- and far-vision problems, such as reading, and single vision glasses help with near or far-vision problems.

Multifocal lenses can take several different shapes:

  • In bifocals, the top portion of the lens is corrected for distance vision, while the bottom half is corrected for reading.
  • Three areas make up trifocals. The lower half is for reading, the upper half is for distance, and the centre portion is for intermediate vision.
  • Bifocals and trifocals without a separating line are progressive lenses. The changeover between the view zones is seamless.

The majority are now composed of plastic. Plastic lenses can be coated to protect your eyes and are lighter than glass lenses. Glass is less likely to scrape than plastic, though.

Other glasses can be customised to your needs:

  • If you do sports or have a child who does, polycarbonate or Trivex lenses are ideal. These can also aid in protecting your “good” eye if you have a condition that causes you to see better out of one eye. On impact, these protective lenses are less prone to break.
  • High index lenses provide additional visual acuity. Compared to conventional lenses, these plastic ones are lighter and smaller.

Glasses: What Is Good And Bad?

Using glasses is simple. You wear them and then start your day. They don’t require much maintenance, and you don’t need particular cleaning agents.

To fit your personality, you can pick from a range of frames. You won’t need to switch out your glasses frequently if your vision remains constant.

Talking about the cons, if you have a powerful prescription or astigmatism, they can cause vision distortion, particularly near the edge of the lens. Depending on the frame you select, it may also be challenging to see in your far peripheral or on the sides of your vision. 

You might not enjoy how the glasses press against your ears or how much weight they put on your nose. Some people dislike how they seem when wearing glasses. Progressive lenses can be difficult for many individuals to get used to.

Overview of Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are small, transparent or plastic discs that fit over your eye to restore vision. There are two different kinds: rigid Glass permeable and soft Glass permeable.

The most common kind of contact is soft ones made with soft plastic. Because they store more water and do not rest directly on the cornea, they are more comfortable than hard contacts.

Different kinds of soft contacts exist, including:

  • Daily-use eyewear: These are worn all day and cleaned at night. On a schedule that your eye doctor recommends, you can change them.
  • Daily throwaway lenses: You only use them once before discarding them.
  • Long-wearing lenses: Wear them all night long. At least once a week, take them out to clean.

Soft contacts are less long-lasting than hard ones. Although they can be less comfortable, they are simpler to maintain. They might be an excellent option if you have allergies and frequently improve eyesight for issues like astigmatism (when your eye is more oval than round).

Additionally, both soft and hard lens contacts come in bifocal and multifocal varieties. Both nearsightedness and farsightedness are simultaneously corrected.

Contact Lenses: What Is Good And Bad? 

Compared to glasses, contact lenses provide more natural eyesight. Nothing prevents you from seeing them since they relocate with your eye. They don’t fog up or become wet when it’s chilly or raining. Playing sports doesn’t interfere with contacts.

The downside is that they require much more maintenance than spectacles. You must properly clean and keep them. If you don’t properly clean your contacts or don’t wash your hands before managing them, you risk developing serious eye infections. If your astigmatism is severe, rotating lenses may cause hazy vision.

Which Is Better To Wear: Contact Lens vs Spectacles? 

Are lenses better than glasses is a heated debate, just like cats against dogs. Others have a strong preference for one and stick with it, while some choose to combine the two.

Choosing between contacts and glasses that are best for you can be difficult because both have advantages. Many fallacies exist concerning contact lenses that discourage individuals from using them, yet if cared for properly, lenses are safe to wear. Two-weekly and monthly contacts must be cleaned and sanitised correctly to ensure eye health and prevent eye infections.

Is It Preferable To Use Contacts Or Glasses When Using A Computer?

No matter if you wear glasses or contacts, excessive computer screen viewing can create dry, itchy eyes since it causes us to blink less frequently. It is advantageous to wear glasses in front of a pc if they have a blue light filter or are anti-glare to shield your eyes. If the contact lenses are very breathable and have a high water content to preserve moisture, wearing them in front of the desktop is OK. Additionally, a silicone hydrogel lens with high porosity will boost the amount of oxygen reaching your eyes and keep them hydrated.

Conclusion

Nowadays, even those who use glasses as their primary method of vision correction can wear contact lenses successfully, thanks to advancements in contact lens innovation.

As a result, the choice of wearing contacts vs glasses, typically comes down to personal opinion.

You should keep a current pair of glasses if you have contact lenses full-time. You need to stop using them occasionally due to an eye problem or irritation or want to give your eyes a break.

Why CFS?

Although this issue affects many individuals these days, you should never ignore it because, if not addressed promptly, it could worsen. Therefore, it is a good idea to have surgery when necessary and speak with a CFS specialist. We have a team of eye specialists who will give you the best service. We have been in the business for a while and have successfully performed safe and successful surgeries on a large number of people.

Article: Understanding Lasik Surgery: Before and After | Centre For Sight
Author: CFS Editorial Team   |   Oct 21 2021 | UPDATED 02:00 IST

*The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of Centre for Sight.

Frequently Asked Questions

DO YOU ALSO HAVE THESE QUERIES?

How often should I have my eyes examined?

It’s recommended to have an eye exam at least once a year, especially if you have vision problems or existing eye conditions.

LASIK and SMILE are generally recommended for patients aged 18 and above who have had stable vision for at least a year.

A cataract specialist or ophthalmologist can perform cataract surgery. Cataract ophthalmologists are the most trained and skilled professionals in cataract eye care.

What payment options are available at Centre for Sight?

Centre for Sight offers various payment options, including credit/debit cards, cash, UPI and insurance. EMI options are also available for specific treatments.

Follow your doctor’s pre-operative instructions carefully. Avoid wearing contact lenses, and ensure your eyes are free from infection or irritation before surgery.

contact-lenses-vs-glasses-which-to-get

Contact Lenses vs Glasses: Which to get?