contact lenses

Contact Lenses Vs. Eyeglasses: Which Option Is Best For You?

Your choice of whether to wear contact lenses or eyeglasses to correct your vision primarily depends on your personal preferences. Comfort, lifestyle, aesthetics, convenience, budget, and lifestyle are all critical considerations in your decision-making process.

Before you choose between glasses and contacts, you should remember that one option isn’t necessarily always going to be better than the other. After all, each option has its advantages and disadvantages in regards to ease of use, eye health and of course vision.

Eyeglasses provide numerous advantages over the more popular option of contact lenses. They don’t require much maintenance and cleaning, you don’t have to touch the eyes when wearing them, and they tend to be cheaper than contact lenses in the long run because they don’t require regular replacement.

Eyeglasses are also capable of doing something that contact lenses are unable to: they can regulate the amount of light that enters the eye to ensure optimal vision and comfort. Photochromic lenses specifically are clear in the nighttime and indoors but automatically darken in sunlight for clear, comfortable vision in any lighting conditions. While some contact lenses are capable of blocking some UV light from reaching the eye, photochromic lenses can block 100 percent of the UV light and protect both the interior of the eye from the UV light as well as the eyelids and exterior of the eye too.

Eyeglasses also make a great fashion statement and can act as an extension of your personality.

Having said that, contact lenses also offer numerous advantages over glasses. Contact lenses sit on the eye directly, which means that vision, and in particular peripheral vision, isn’t obstructed. It is possible to participate in outdoor activities and sports without having to worry about eyeglasses breaking, falling off, or simply getting in the way. It is even possible to use color contact lenses to change the color of your eyes.

So, which option is better for your specific lifestyle and needs – contact lenses or glasses? The following is a breakdown of all the pros and cons of each type of eyewear to help you make an informed decision.

Contact Lenses: Pros

– Contacts never clash with what you wear

– Contacts never get in the way when exercising or playing sports

– Contacts conform to the natural curvature of the eyes, provide a wider field of view, and cause fewer vision distortions and obstructions compared to eyeglasses.

Contact Lenses: Cons

– Contacts limit the amount of oxygen that reaches the eye and can either cause dry eye syndrome or increase its severity.

– Contacts require much more care than eyeglasses. Contacts sit directly on your eye so they need to be cleaned and cared for.

– Some people have reported experiencing problems applying contacts to their eye even though using the right technique and enough practice should correct this in most instances.

– If you are a frequent user of the computer, wearing contact lenses can contribute to the symptoms of computer vision syndrome.

Eyeglasses: Pros

– Eyeglasses won’t worsen the problem of dry or sensitive eyes as contact lenses do.

– With eyeglasses, you never have to touch the eyes, which means that the likelihood of irritating them or even developing an eye infection is reduced.

– Eyeglasses generally cost less than contacts in the long run. You don’t have to replace them as often, and if the prescription changes over time, you can replace the lenses but keep the current frames.

Eyeglasses: Cons

– If your prescription is strong, the edges of the lenses might be thick and unappealing, or the glasses might make the eyes appear unnaturally magnified or minified.

– You might not like the way you look in glasses, and you might feel that they either hide your features or detracts from your facial aesthetics.

– Eyeglasses typically sit about half an inch from the eyes, which means that it is possible for peripheral vision to be distorted. People also often report having a hard time focusing on objects and having blurry vision when they wear eyeglasses for the first time, or they change prescriptions.

Eyeglasses, Contact Lenses, or Both?

The advanced in contact lens technology has allowed many people to wear contacts successfully even if they prefer wearing glasses as the primary method of vision correction.

The decision to wear either contacts or eyeglasses as well as when to wear them is thus a matter of personal preference.

However, it is important to remember that if you choose to be wearing contacts full-time, you also need an up-to-date pair of sunglasses in case you ever need to stop wearing the contact lenses due to an irritation or an eye infection, or you simply wish to give the eyes a break.

Are Contacts Hard To Put In?

Typically, it’s easy to put fitted contacts into your eye and of course remove them when you need to. It just takes patience and practice.

If Kids Can Use Them, So Can Adults

Many parents are concerned about allowing their kids to wear contacts when their children show an interest in wearing contacts. However, according to research, most kids do well once they learn how to properly care for and handle their contacts and they find it easy to put them in and take them out.

In recent studies, 84 children aged 8 to 12, and 85 teens who were 13 to 17, were all fitted with contact lenses for the very first time. The majority of these younger children were able to master the art of putting them in and removing them. Also, the 83 percent of the pre-teens and 90 percent of the teens stated that they were easy to use and take care of.

All the parents in the study were in agreement. By the end of the study, 96 percent of the parents in the pre-teen group, and 89 percent of the parents in the teen group were in agreement with the statement that their children were able to demonstrate the responsibility that it takes to wear contact lenses and to properly care for them.

Good fitting will ensure that the contacts aren’t hard to put into the eye. Regardless of whether you’re a parent of a child wearing contacts, or an adult who is trying them for the first time, a comprehensive eye exam will help the doctor to make sure that they’re going to fit well by the measurements that they’re going to take. They will then choose the best fitting contact for your specific needs or for your child’s specific needs.

The doctor will measure the amount of space between the upper and lower lids when the eyes are open normally.

If there is limited space (many Asians or those who have deep set eyes struggle with this), the doctor may select a soft lens that has a small diameter to make it easy to insert and remove the contacts.

If there is trouble in handling the contacts, it’s because the person is likely blinking before the lenses touch the eye. Your eye doctor or the optician will give suggestions to help you become more comfortable in placing the contacts into your eyes and removing them from your eyes.

Wash your hands well.

Always look into the mirror and open the eyes widely. Touch the whites of your eyes with your pad of your finger and don’t blink.

Use the same technique applying the contacts and put it on the tip of your finger as you place it into your eye. Allow your finger to remain in your eye for a second or two before you remove it.

It will take some practice; however, you’ll master the skill in time. Once you master the skill, it becomes easier and easier.

If you’re still struggling, the eye doctor may suggest gas permeable lenses instead. Rigid lenses take more getting used to; however, they’re smaller than soft contacts, and many find them far easier to place in the eye.

Regardless of which you select, the gas permeable lenses or the rigid gas lenses don’t give up. If you’re struggling, walk away for a few minutes and try again later.

Each successful attempt will make it easier the next time. Be patient and practice and soon you’ll be doing it easily every time. It will quickly become second nature to you, and you’ll have mastered the technique.

Daily Disposable Contact Lenses: A Healthy And Convenient Choice

scleral contact lenses 200×300 Disposable daily contact lenses are removed and thrown out at the end of each day. These single-use lenses are completely disposable, and you’ll use a new, fresh pair of lenses each morning. Daily contacts are rapidly gaining popularity with both practitioners and with consumers due to their health benefits as well as convenience.

Before you begin to go over the pros and cons of these lenses, you’ll want to understand these two things:

Don’t get confused with “daily wear” and “daily disposable”. Daily wear lenses are the ones that must be taken out before going to sleep as they’re not FDA approved for long-term (overnight extended) wear. These may require replacing daily, weekly, monthly or even quarterly depending on the brand. Wearing schedule and replacement schedule are completely different things to consider.

When it comes to contacts, “Disposable” doesn’t always mean that they are single-use. Some daily lenses are thrown out every 2-weeks, and these are also called disposable. Daily disposable are the ones that are thrown out daily.

Why Throw Them Out?

Most people don’t realize that the more frequently they change their contact lenses, the healthier the eyes are going to be and the more comfortable.

Proteins, lipids, calcium, and other naturally found in your eye substances can build up on lenses. These deposits can make your contacts uncomfortable to wear over the course of time. Which is why new contacts are always more comfortable than older ones.

Lenses can be cleaned; however, cleaning isn’t 100 percent effective at getting all of the deposits off of the contacts. There are still going to be some deposits that accumulate over the course of time.

Daily Contact Lenses: Health And Convenience

There are two ways to avoid most contact care.

One is to wear extended lenses for a few days straight and then throw them out when you’re done. Unfortunately, when you wear them overnight, it’s not always a good thing. Some people have issues with this. It can increase eye problems for some of the wearers.

Daily disposable lenses are the alternative. A lot of eye care professionals and lens wearers feel that these offer the best of both choices. They are convenient. They’re easy to wear. They don’t require cleaning, and they are healthier as there isn’t any accumulation of deposits and you don’t wear them overnight.

How Different Are Daily Lenses From Regular Lenses?

Even before the implementation of daily lenses, it was known that the more frequently lenses were replaced, the healthier the eyes and the better the vision. The issue was, the contacts were too expensive to throw them out daily. So, cleaning solutions were made, and there were devices used to help prolong the life of the lenses.

Then, the manufacturers developed newer methods to manufacture the lenses and produce higher quality lenses in great volumes at a far lower cost. These advances would lead to lower prices that would lead to more affordability for lens replacements.

Today, many of the lenses people wear are made of the same types of materials as the traditional lenses. Some disposables are made of newer materials, and the designs were developed especially for dispensability.

How Much Do Daily Disposables Cost?

Daily disposable lenses, on average, are more costly than those that are worn for longer periods of time. Costs can vary depending on the brand, prescription, and other variables. Daily disposables that are made of a silicone hydrogel material are frequently positioned as the ideal daily disposable and have the greatest benefit, and are more expensive.

If you’re thinking about daily contact lenses, keep in mind that the higher costs will be offset by the savings on lens cleaning products. You won’t require these anymore. Depending on your vision insurance, you may also have an allowance to use towards purchasing contacts as well. Most manufacturers of these contacts also offer big rebates on year supplies of daily disposable lenses, which make the price tag similar to extended wear contacts.

Also, you need to remember that fitting fees also vary from one eye doctor to the next. It will be dependent on where you live, the going rate and the type of eye care professional that you select.

In spite of the more expensive price tag, disposable lenses are frequently less expensive than people anticipate. It’s not at all unusual to spend more money on their daily Starbucks visit than on their eye care. While you’re enjoying that coffee for a half hour, you will have fresh lenses that will give you comfort and clarity all day long.

Can I Wear Daily Lenses?

Yes, most people can. Ask your eye care professional.

The key is that if they make the lenses in your prescription, you can likely wear them. Besides single vision designs, there are also designs for multifocal that correct presbyopia and toric lenses for astigmatism.

If your prescription isn’t in the range for daily disposable lenses, you may have to stay with what you’re already using. Some prescriptions require reusable lenses that are replaced annually. Just about everyone can wear contact lenses, however.

While a complete evaluation by your eye doctor at Fusion Eye Care is the only way to determine the answer, you’ll be able to choose from many options. To schedule your appointment, please call us at (919) 977-7480.