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The choice of wearing glasses or contact lenses for vision correction depends mainly on personal preferences. Lifestyle, comfort, convenience, budget and aesthetics should all be determining factors in the entire decision-making process.
Before deciding between contact lenses and glasses, keep in mind that one is not necessarily better than the other; each has its pros and cons in terms of vision, ease of use and eye health.
Any optician will tell you that glasses offer many advantages over contact lenses. They require very little cleaning and maintenance, you don’t need to touch your eyes to wear them (decreasing the risk of eye infections), and they’re cheaper than long-term contact lenses since they don’t need to be replaced often. In addition, glasses can do something that contact lenses cannot do: they can regulate the amount of light entering the eye for optimal comfort and vision. Most notably, photochromic lenses are clear indoors and at night while they darken automatically in sunlight for clear and comfortable vision in any light condition. Although some contact lenses can block some UV light from entering the eye, photochromic eyeglass lenses block 100% of UV rays and protect not only the inside of the eye from UV rays, but also the eye. outer eye and eyelids.
Pros and Cons of Contact Lenses vs Glasses
That said, contact lenses also have many advantages over glasses. The lenses are located directly on the eye, so vision, especially peripheral vision, is not obstructed by any obstacles. You can participate in sports and outdoor activities without fear of your glasses getting in the way, falling out or breaking. You can even change the color of your eyes with colored contact lenses. So which ones are best for your particular needs and lifestyle: glasses or contact lenses? Here is a breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of eyewear to help you choose.
Contact lenses Pros and Cons
Pros
The lenses adapt to the curvature of the eye, providing a wider field of view and causing less distortion and obstructions of vision than glasses. They are also not in the way when playing sports and training. They are also unaffected by weather conditions and won’t fog up in cold weather like glasses.
If you want to see what you would look like with a different eye color, you can experiment with colored contact lenses. Some contact lenses can reshape the cornea while you sleep. Night Orthokeratology (Ortho-k) temporarily corrects myopia, so you can see clearly the next day without the need for glasses or contact lenses.
Cons
Some people have difficulty fitting a contact lens to their eyes (but in most cases, proper technique and practice should solve this problem).
Contact lenses reduce the amount of oxygen reaching the eye and can cause or increase the severity of dry eye syndrome.
If you work on a computer frequently, wearing contact lenses will likely contribute to the symptoms of machine vision syndrome. Contact lenses require proper lens care and cleaning of the lens case every day, to avoid potentially serious eye infections. If you can’t commit to the recommended care and replacement cycle of your contact lenses, consider daily disposable products.
Eyeglasses Pros and Cons
Pros
Wearing glasses reduces the need to touch your eyes, which in turn reduces the likelihood of irritating your eyes or developing an eye infection. If you have dry or sensitive eyes, glasses won’t aggravate the problem like contact lenses can. Glasses are generally cheaper than long-term contact lenses. You don’t need to replace your glasses that often (unless you break them!) And if your prescription changes over time, you may be able to keep the current frame and just replace the lenses. The goggles offer some protection from environmental factors such as wind, dust and debris. Progressive glasses have a seamless increase in magnification from the top to the bottom of the lens, helping you see clearly at all distances with just one pair of glasses.
Cons
The glasses are located approximately 12mm from the eyes, so peripheral vision can be distorted. Many people also report difficulty focusing on objects and blurred vision when they start wearing glasses or change prescriptions. Some people also dislike the way they look with glasses and feel that it detracts from the aesthetics of the face or hides their features. If you have a strong prescription, the edges of the lenses may be thick and unappealing, or the glasses may make your eyes appear unnaturally minimized or enlarged. Some frames can put constant pressure on the nose and behind the ears, causing headaches and general malaise.
Contact Lenses, Prescription Glasses … or Both?
Thanks to advances in contact lens technology, most people today can wear contact lenses successfully, even if they prefer to wear glasses as their primary form of vision correction. So the decision to wear contact lenses or glasses – and when to wear them – is usually a matter of personal preference.
Keep in mind, however, that if you wear contact lenses full-time, you should also have an upgraded pair of glasses, in case you stop wearing contact lenses due to an eye infection or irritation, or simply to make your eyes rest for some time.