So you’ve had an eye exam and one thing is clear: It’s time for corrective eyewear. If, like most of the population, your vision is less than 20/20, you’ll find yourself choosing between glasses and contacts. While both are effective vision-correcting tools, it’s important to weigh your options – contacts vs. glasses – to determine which fits best with your lifestyle.
Contacts vs. Glasses
Ease of Wear
When it comes to ease of wear, glasses are generally the easier option. They don’t need much care beyond routine cleaning, and you can simply put them on and go. You also won’t need to order new glasses unless your vision changes or you’d like to switch up your frames. Finally, glasses are easy to clean, and you don’t have to touch your eyes to apply them. On the other hand, you absolutely have to clean your contacts and store them properly. There is also always a chance you could give yourself an eye infection if you handle them with dirty hands.
Comfort
Comfort truly comes down to personal preference. If this is your first time wearing corrective eyewear, know that it can be harder to adjust to wearing contacts than glasses. Overall, contacts also typically require more follow-up care. On the other hand, some contacts wearers don’t like the weight that glasses place on your nose and ears, and progressive lenses can present their own challenges in terms of adjustment and comfort. You should also consider comfort while on the go – for example, glasses lenses can fog up or get splattered in the rain, and they can be frustrating during high-intensity exercise or sports. If you’re an active person, contacts might make the most sense. They offer better peripheral awareness, and you don’t have to worry about them fogging up or falling off while you’re on the move.
Affordability
While a new pair of glasses presents a high upfront cost, glasses are typically more affordable than contacts over the long term. Think of it this way: If you wear disposable contacts, you typically need to discard and replace them every two weeks. The average disposable contact brand will cost you up to $300 per year, not including the cost of contact lens solution. If you keep the same pair of glasses for more than a year – which most people do – you’ll save more money in the long run.
Personal Style
Gone are the nerdy glasses of yesteryear. If you’re looking for a new accessory, glasses are obviously a better choice than imperceptible contact lenses. Today’s market has countless options, making it easy to find a pair – or multiple pairs – of frames to fit your personal style. For example, we carry Gwen Stefani’s brand of high-fashion glasses if you’re looking for a bold look. However, if you can’t find a pair that suits your style – or you simply don’t like the way you look in glasses – contacts are an inconspicuous, discreet option.
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Glasses and contacts each come with their own set of pros and cons. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference, lifestyle, and activity level. If you’re not sure where to begin, ask your eye doctor to walk you through the best options for you.
If you live in southwest Missouri, contact Heffington’s for help. Since 1975, the Heffington family has been assisting the Springfield community with top-quality eye care and affordable eyeglasses and contacts. One of the unique features of our family-owned business is that we manufacture lenses at our own laboratory, giving us total control over the service and pricing, and we’re happy to pass our savings on to you. To learn more about our products and services, please get in touch with us online, send an email to [email protected], or give us a call at 417-869-3937 (Optiland location) or 417-882-3937 (House of Vision location). We look forward to hearing from you!