October 31, 2020

So, you need prescription eyewear to enable you to see clearly, stay safe and live life to the fullest. As you probably know, most prescriptions are available both as glasses and contact lenses. But with both options being very different, how do you know which is right for you? You might be surprised to learn that many people struggle to make this choice.

Research suggests that of the 75% of U.S. adults that currently require some sort of vision correction, a whopping 64% wear glasses. The remaining 11% choose contact lenses, which are either worn exclusively or interchanged with glasses, for example, with the patient choosing contact lenses for certain activities, like attending a special event.

To help you make a decision between glasses and contact lenses, we’ve put together a comprehensive comparison. Here’s what you need to know about the pros and cons of contact lenses vs glasses.

Pros of glasses

There are a number of positive reasons to choose glasses to correct your vision.

• Glasses are generally considered the most affordable option.

• Glasses are unlikely to cause any side effects.

• Glasses can offer your eyes some protection from injury.

• Glasses can be worn by pretty much any patient.

• Glasses can support a wide range of different lenses, including those with special coatings such as anti-glare, which can help enhance your vision further.

Cons of glasses

There are some limitations that are associated with the use of glasses though.

• Glasses affect your appearance.

• Glasses aren’t suitable to be worn for some activities, normally because they might fall off or accidentally hurt you, for example when participating in certain sports like swimming or football. 

• Glasses are easily damaged, with many people sitting on them or not protecting them properly so that the lenses get scratched.

• Glasses can also become lost or left behind somewhere.

• Glasses can fog up, especially when you are wearing a mask.
   

Pros of contact lenses

Contact lenses may be less popular than glasses, but there are a number of reasons why you should consider them to correct your vision.

• Contact lenses sit on the surface of the eye, meaning that they don’t affect your appearance.

• Contact lenses also offer a greater and clearer field of vision than glasses, since there are no frames blocking your peripheral vision.

• Contact lenses can be worn during many different sports and activities, helping patients to enjoy clear vision that they may not otherwise have if they normally wear glasses (which cannot be used during them). This gives patients greater flexibility over their day to day lives.

• Contact lenses have been shown to provide slightly better visual acuity than glasses, giving you clearer, crisper vision.
   

Cons of contact lens

As with glasses, there are some elements of contact lenses that mean that they might not necessarily be right for you.

• Contact lenses typically cost more than glasses, including an ongoing monthly financial commitment.

• Unless you choose daily disposables, you will need to spend considerable time cleaning and taking care of your contact lenses.

• Contact lenses are known to cause the wearer to experience dryness, redness and irritation.

• Contact lenses must fit properly onto the surface of the eyes to remain stable and not fall out. Although there are contact lenses for the majority of people, there are some patients who cannot wear them.

• There are also some people who simply can’t tolerate contact lenses.

• Contact lens use may increase your risk of developing eye infections and subsequent damage.

If you would like more information about the pros and cons of contact lenses and glasses, our knowledgeable eyecare team at East Main Vision Clinic in Puyallup, WA would be happy to help. Please contact us with your questions or to schedule an appointment by calling 253-780-0700 today!