Contacts or Glasses: How to Know Which is Better for You

It’s time for an eye exam. While making your appointment, the receptionist asks you if you want contacts or eyeglasses. Before you decide, make sure you understand which type of corrective lenses will work best for you.

Lifestyle
Jobs or hobbies that require you to wear safety goggles make wearing eyeglasses a bit tricky. You will have to wear the safety goggles over your corrective lenses. For some, this creates too much weight on the face and becomes a distraction. Some frames may make it difficult for the safety goggles to be positioned properly, lessening their effectiveness.

Sunglasses
Most ophthalmologists recommend sunglasses to protect your eyes from damaging UV rays. Choosing eyeglasses will mean you will need to wear clip-on shades, purchase a separate pair of prescription sunglasses, or purchase expensive photochromic lenses (which do not change colors when you are driving).

Allergies
Even with medicine, allergy sufferer’s eyes can still be itchy and irritated. According to Londonderry Eye Care, wearing contacts sometimes causes further irritation. Additionally, some people have been known to become allergic to the lenses themselves, even after months of trouble-free wear.

Fashion
Eyeglass frames come in many styles. Frames can be purchased for every mood and fashion trend. Internet eyeglass manufacturers have made glasses so affordable that many purchase more than one pair.

Wearing contacts allows you to change the color of your eyes. Plus, contact lenses allow eye makeup to be as expressive as possible.

Maintenance
Contacts are high maintenance. You must either clean and store your lenses nightly or constantly purchase fresh lenses. If you live in an arid climate, you will have to regularly use eye drops to keep your contacts from drying out and irritating your eyes. Some contact lenses require you to remove and store your contacts for the night. Even if you use disposable lenses, you will have to have a pair of glasses for the time between removing your contacts and going to sleep.

Glasses are pretty much “grab and go.”

Decision Time
Deciding between contacts and glasses is a matter of personal preference. Contacts are better for people who use safety goggles or intend on wearing sunglasses. Glasses are better for people who have allergies, live in dry climates, or hate lengthy self-care routines.

If you still haven’t decided which way to go, ask your optometrist for a contact lens exam. This type of exam generates a prescription for either type of lens and keeps your options open.

*Our content is not intended to provide medical advice or diagnosis of individual problems or circumstances, nor should it be implied that we are a substitute for professional medical advice. Users / readers are always advised to consult their Healthcare Professional prior to starting any new remedy, therapy or treatment. Your Wellness Group accepts no liability in the event you, a user of n-gage and a reader of this article, suffers a loss as a result of reliance upon or inappropriate application of the information.