When it comes to vision correction eyewear, it all depends on your personal preference. People wear eyeglasses and/or contact lenses to correct a range of refractive vision errors, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. While eyeglasses have evolved over centuries with more innovative technology, contacts have only been around since the 1980s. One option, glasses or contacts, is not necessarily better than the other. It all comes down to your lifestyle, level of comfort, which is most convenient for you, what your budget is and if you’re trying to make a statement or keep your eyewear hidden from others.
Here are some questions to ask yourself when you’re considering glasses or contacts:
- Lifestyle – Are you an active person who enjoys exercise and physical sports? Will you be running and jumping around?
- Comfort – How comfortable are you putting contacts on the surface of your eye? Will it bother you if your glasses get fogged up when it’s cold outside or you’re wearing a mask?
- Convenience – Are you willing to take out your contacts before sleep & clean them regularly? Do you want to just slip on your glasses and be able to see clearly?
- Budget – Do you prefer a one-time investment (glasses) or on-going eye care maintenance that has fees associated (contacts)?
- Aesthetics – Do you want stylish frames to show off your fun personality? Or do you not want anyone to know you’re wearing corrective eyewear?
Advantages & Disadvantages of Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses
There are different pros and cons in terms of vision, ease of use and eye health when it comes to opting for eyeglasses or contact lenses.
GLASSES
Historically, glasses have been the go-to eyewear remedy. Glasses not only help you see better but also offer a form of protection from environmental factors, such as wind, debris and dust. Other advantages of glasses are the variety of styles available and the fact that it is a one-time investment. While many people opt for the ease of use when it comes to glasses, some are not fans of eyeglasses. They may not like how they look in glasses or experience discomfort from wear on their nose and behind their ears. Another disadvantage of glasses is the fact that your peripheral vision can be distorted since most glasses sit about half an inch away from your eyes.
CONTACT LENSES
Plastic contacts conform to the curvature of one’s eye, which provides a wider field of view, causing less distortions and obstructions than glasses. People who are active typically choose contacts over glasses because they do not get in the way when playing sports and exercising. Other perks of contacts include the option to temporarily change the color of your eye and not have to deal with them fogging up or being affected by weather conditions. A major disadvantage of contacts is that they are more time-consuming by requiring proper lens care and cleaning daily. In addition, some people have difficulty applying contact lenses to their eyes and may even experience dry eye syndrome from wearing contacts. Lastly, contacts can be more costly than eyeglasses because of how often they need to be replaced.
Manning,
Rommel & Thode Associates –
For the Best Eye Care and Best Eye Exams in Lancaster, PA
At Manning, Rommel & Thode Associates, we understand how important it is to have family eye doctors that you can trust. Our friendly and certified opticians are ready to assist you with all your eyewear needs. When you find yourself searching for “vision exam near me,” look no further! Based on your vision exam results, MRT Eyes opticians will help you decide if glasses or contacts are the best bet for you and your lifestyle. As many people do, you may find yourself using a combination of eyeglasses and contacts.
For more information on optical care at Manning, Rommel & Thode Associates and for the best family eye doctors in Lancaster, PA, contact us today at (717) 393-7980 to schedule an appointment.