Contacts vs. Glasses: The Pros and Cons

Did you know? Glasses were first invented for people with farsightedness. If someone was nearsighted in those days, a pair of convex glasses wouldn’t help, and this was the only material available for the production of eyeglasses in the 1880s. Convex eyeglass lenses were great when it came to magnifying print for reading and writing, and the concave lenses that worked for nearsightedness weren’t invented until many years later.

For people over 40, this was good news, because this invention helped greatly with Presbyopia, the condition that causes things close-up to look blurry as we age. 

The first pair of contacts were fitted onto human eyes in the late 1800s, but they were made of blown glass and covered the eyeball totally, so as you can imagine, they were not very comfortable. Inventors kept trying, and eventually, in the 1940s, the advent of plastic led to contact lenses, with soft contacts becoming available in the 70s. The comfort and wearability of contacts keep getting better, year after year.

So how do you know which type of eyewear is right for you? Let’s discuss the pros and cons of each, and then we’ll let you decide:

• Glasses have less upkeep than contact lenses, as well as less risk. If you don’t forget to clean your glasses, it’s really not a big deal. If you forget to care for your contacts properly, however, you could end up causing permanent damage to your eyes! The invention of contacts that can be disposed of daily has improved this risk factor, though, so all you have to do is remember to take good care of them. 
• Contacts help the wearer to almost forget that they have a vision impairment, and without the weight of the frames it’s easy to move about freely without worrying that eyeglasses will fall off or get lost. 
• Eyeglasses can interfere with your field of vision, too, such as when you look out the corner of your eye. You will see part of your frame, and contact lenses don’t have that issue, of course. Glasses are also prone to fogging up when it is humid outdoors, or when the wearer moves from a cold environment to a hot one, but they do protect the eyes from dust and debris. 
• Eyeglasses are considered a better choice for those who work on computer screens or spend lots of time online during leisure hours. Too many hours of screen time can lead to eye strain and dryness, even when using lubricating drops. Eyeglasses will be much more comfortable for heavy computer users, and this is also true for those with allergies or eye irritations. 
• When it comes to style, glasses and contacts will both allow you to express yourself. Many celebrities have even founded their own eyewear lines. However, you can also customize your contact lenses by changing the color of your eyes. 
• Contacts can often cost more than eyeglasses, especially if the wearer opts for dailies. To conserve your finances, you can buy contacts in six-month or yearly quantities, but you will want to be sure to check in with your eye doctor to keep your prescription up-to-date. 

We hope that this list of factors will help you to make an informed decision about which type of eyewear will be right for you. Here at Classic Vision Care, our name says it all. We care about you and your vision, and we are here to help you make the best eyewear choice. Make an appointment with us today!