When your vision falls below 20/20 level you need to begin wearing full time eye wear in order to compensate for the change and to ensure that you are still able to continue an active and full life, with perfect sight. The problem that crops up at this time is the question of what visual aid is right for you, with the two most common choices being eyeglasses and contact lenses, with a third being LASIK eye surgery – a topic for another discussion.
So, eyeglasses vs. contact lenses – which is better?
First, even as an avid contact lens wearer, you will never escape having to wear prescription eyeglasses. Contacts are great if you don’t suffer from dry eyes and when all is healthy with your eyes in general. However, the moment you have tired, dry or infected eyes, your contact lenses need to go into hibernation and allow your eyeglasses to do their part in helping you see while you rest your eyes and give them time to heal.
Let’s talk affordability because your pocket dictates many of the choices you make.
Eyeglasses are the more affordable option as one pair may last you two or more years, if your eyeglasses prescription doesn’t change. Plus, the upkeep of their care is cheap.
Contacts require far more care. Disposable contact lens wearers buy new ones regularly; while those who wear hard contact lenses still need to pay for lens solution and other such products.
Let’s discuss comfort and convenience.
Eyeglasses are also far more comfortable and convenient because they’re easy and quick to slip on.
Contact lenses often dry up or dehydrate, causing discomfort and red eyes due to the span of usage. The recommendation is only to wear you contact lenses for eight hours consecutively per day and to give your eyes a complete rest from them for at least one full day a week.
What about travel?
Eyeglasses can easily be carried to any travel destination you can think of – all you need is your case.
Contact lenses require more maintenance and cleaning solutions, a case, and eye drops.
What about fashion?
Eyeglasses enable you to choose a variety of different styles and use your frames as a fashion accessory, like the retro look; geek-chic; sexy librarian; no-nonsense businessman and so on.
Contacts enable you to look like you – natural and simple with no one knowing that you’re wearing anything to aid your side; but you still don’t have the fashionable edge that eyeglasses can give you.
On the positive side, both eyeglasses and contact lenses help to correct astigmatism and both can be extremely comfortable. In the end, the choice really is yours to make and should you have the financial means, you may even choose to take both options.
Just remember, when you decide to buy glasses, always take a look at the online options first – it’ll be cheaper in cost at the end of the day. What’s more, these discount eyeglasses are not cheap glasses, but in fact often match or are superior to those sold offline. You can also buy contact lenses online but buyers beware: contacts come with an expiration date and should only stay on the shelf for three months before being disposed.
Hillary Glaser is a social networking specialist and expert in cross-media promotion, currently working on promoting prescription eye glasses. She is the Director of Marketing and Special Projects for GlassesUSA.com – the easiest way to buy glasses online, which now offers free shipping on all US orders with the code FreeShip10.