Glasses vs. Contacts: Which Are Right for You?


Contact lenses and glasses can help with nearsightedness, astigmatism, and farsightedness. When it comes to contacts, you should buy online. A doctor will help you determine the correction needed and provide you with a prescription to get things settled. But, here comes the age-old question. Which is better–glasses or contacts?

There are many pros and cons to both, but the most significant deciding factor usually comes down to comfort and personal preference.

If you have bad vision, you may be looking into your options to improve it. Glasses vs. contacts, keep scrolling to find out which is the best option for you. And also check out EyesOnBridgwater.com.

What are Contact Lenses?

Contact lenses have been an alternative for corrective vision treatment for a century.

In 1508 Leonardo da Vinci made the first illustrations of the concept of contact lenses. It took another 300 years for British astronomer Sir John Herschel to create a practical lens design in 1823.

German glassblower F.E. Muller produced The first glass-made contact lenses that fit over the entire eye and could be successfully worn In 1887.

Over the next few decades, many companies had experimented with lenses made of different materials such as hydrophilic (water absorbing) plastic, silicone, and plexiglass.

It wasn’t until 1987 when the Johnson & Johnson company created their signature Acuvue disposable soft lenses. These lenses provided more comfort, better oxygen transmission, and fewer complications.

More than 125 million people worldwide use contact lenses to correct their vision.

Here are the Pros for Wearing Contacts

Aside from not having to wear something on your face physically, contacts have many benefits. Here are some why contacts are better for some.

Must-Have for Sports and Activities

Glasses can get knocked-off, fall off your face, and will need to be readjusted occasionally. The frames themselves can be a huge distraction when competing in sports and other outdoor activities where unobstructed vision is necessary to have a competitive edge.

Contacts allow you to move your head quickly without having to worry about your glasses sliding off.

They Give You Creative Expression

Not only can contacts correct your vision, but you can also experiment with different eye colors. There are many brands out on the market that have different tints that can change your natural eye color to colors such as blue, green, hazel, or black.

If you like to take participate in cosplay or take Halloween to the extreme, some contact lens manufacturers create extreme designs such as cat eyes, extreme colors, and even some that have sports logos on them.

Wider Field of Vision

When your head is still, and you turn your eyes from side to side, you may end up seeing the frames of your glasses obstructing your vision. Since contacts are shaped to the curvature of your eye when your eyes move peripherally, there is no obstruction which gives you a full field of view.

This is especially important when for activities such as sports, gaming, competitive shooting, and other activities that require a wide field of vision.

Here are Cons for Wearing Contacts

Although contacts have many great benefits, there are some reasons why people choose glasses over their counterparts. Here are some reasons why.

Uncomfortable for Sensitive Eyes

Although rare, some users of contacts have complained of discomfort. In the end, there is something in your eye that takes some getting used to. but for people with sensitive eyes, the feeling just isn’t worth the discomfort.

One of the most significant consequences of wearing contact lenses is dry eyes. Most contact lenses are not meant to be worn for long periods, especially overnight. If you wear them for long periods, your eyes may become fatigued, dry, and irritated. It’s essential to add an eye-drop solution to your eyes to decrease irritation.

Contacts Require Extra Care

Unlike glasses, which need nothing more than cleaning your lenses occasionally, contacts require a bit more care.

Contacts need to be immersed in a contact lens solution in a special case. When handling contacts, you need to make sure your hands are clean and the contact lens solution is regularly cleaned and replaced to prevent infections.

Depending on the manufacturer’s suggestion, some lenses need to be changed out daily, weekly, or monthly. If you don’t change them out as suggested, you may be at risk of infection, irritation, and general discomfort.

What are Glasses

Eyeglasses are two pieces of round glass (or plastic) held together by a frame that is worn over your eyes to correct your vision.

Although the time frame for the invention of glasses is unknown, it is said that the first known appearance of glasses appeared in Italy in the 13th century.

Eyeglasses are the most common vision-corrective wearables, with over 4 billion adults who wear them worldwide.

Here are the Pros for Wearing Glasses

Glasses provide many benefits that you can’t get from wearing contacts. Here are some reasons why glasses are better for some people.

Protects the Eye

Since glasses sit on your face, they provide protection from anything that comes flying towards your face and can damage your eyes. Getting dust, dirt, or even worse, wood chips or pieces of metal can be annoying or extremely painful.

Wearing glasses can provide you with the first line of defense for your eyes and can prevent you from needing medical attention and a costly hospital bill.

Provides Fashion

One reason why people choose glasses over contacts is that they can give you a little more style.

A lot of celebrities are known for their unique style of glasses. John Legend, Buddy Holly, and Bono were all known for their distinctive glasses they wore on the big stage.

Glasses aren’t as Expensive

Since contacts are a disposable item, you’ll need to buy them regularly for your life. Most people order them monthly quarterly or annually. This means the cost will never stop throughout their need.

Glasses on the hand can last for years. If your glasses do break, they can be repaired most of the time for a small fee. This eye doctor can help you with your vision needs.

Here are the Cons of Wearing Glasses

Although glasses are the preferred method for vision correction, there are some disadvantages. let’s go over them.

Not as Good for Activities

Wearing glasses during active, sports, jobs like firefighting, and swimming can be bothersome. They tend to fall off your face and limit your field of vision.

Not Good With the Elements

Glasses will fog up and in humid and cold conditions and you will need to clean them often from dirt and dander.

Can be Easily Damaged

Since glasses are an item that you put on and take off, they’re vulnerable to being lost, stepped on or damaged.

Glasses vs. Contacts: Who Wins?

When it comes to glasses vs. contacts, and what is best for you, it’s best to see check With your lifestyle. If you live a more active lifestyle and play sports, go with contacts.

If you’re looking for maximum comfort and are don’t live a very sporty lifestyle go with glasses. Our suggestion is to try both and see what works best for you. What do you prefer? leave a comment below.

Jeff Campbell

Jeff Campbell is a father, martial artist, budget-master, Disney-addict, musician, and recovering foodie having spent over 2 decades as a leader for Whole Foods Market. Click to learn more about me

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