Contacts Vs. Glasses

Many people now have vision problems. Some people are nearsighted (myopia), while others are farsighted (hyperopia). There are many more, and probably some that have not been discovered yet. Well for people who are nearsighted or farsighted, they either use contacts or glasses to see 20/20. I am personally nearsighted and I have both glasses and contacts. This post is to sort of break down the pros and cons of contacts and glasses.

I'll start off with glasses. Glasses are frames that have lenses in them. They are worn in front of the eye. Now a days they have different designs, color, etc. for the frames to make them more fashionable.


Pros:
The pros for glasses is that you can be able to see clearly again. You don't have to clean them daily like contacts. You simply just put them on and take them off. There is a less risk of getting eye infection because the lens isn't in your eye, rather just in front of you. Glasses may be cheaper then contacts in some cases. Glasses give you more of a solid vision because you are looking through a solid piece of plastic. When they are fitted properly, they can be comfortable.

Cons:
Glasses can be bulky if you have thick lenses and it may not have a great fit to your face. It can slide off you face and sometimes create discomfort in your ears and nose. The distance between your eye and the lens of the glasses can create distortion in your vision. You also get poor peripheral vision. To see something to the side clearly, you would need to move your whole head. Glasses can also hinder your concentration during sport games or sports in general. They also fog up during temperature changes and can be a hassle when you are in rain or snow. If you like to wear sunglasses, you would have to purchase another pair with a prescription in them which can be costly.

Next are contact lenses. Contact lenses are lenses placed at the cornea of your eye. It makes direct contact with your eye. There are many different types. For example, corrective contact lenses (hard contacts) are for vision correction and can improve vision. Some people also use color contacts with no prescription in them they are called "decorative contact lenses" or just simply "colored contacts."
There are also soft contacts which are designed for short periods of usage and are disposable.

Pros:
There are many positive aspects of contacts. You can see the entire view and have a full range of vision. There are no obstructions and distortions are reduced. There isn't any discomfort on your nose or ears. There is no weight associated to contact lenses. There is also no longer a barrier and distraction during sport games for athletes. Contacts are suitable for rainy or snowy forecast. You can buy cheap non-presciption sunglasses. Hard contacts can improve your vision. There are also daily or weekly disposable soft contact lenses. And no one will know that you're wearing contacts unless you tell them.

Cons:
With pros, there are also cons. Contacts have to be very well kept because make contact with your eye. Sometimes if you rub your eye, they can fall out. If they aren't well kept, your eye can be infected. Contacts give you clear vision, but they aren't as consistent as glasses. They can create discomfort in some people's eyes. And they can take time to get used to. It also takes time to learn how to put in and take out contacts. Contacts can be a little more expensive then glasses.

Contacts and glasses have many things that they both have. They both help with your vision and let you be able to see clearly again. They both can break, except if a contact rips in your eye it is gonna really hurt. Glasses now are all made shatter resistance, but they can get scratched and broken too. They both can be comfortable and have their discomforts at times.

Overall, if you are just wearing glasses to read or for limited amounts of time, glasses are probably better. However, if you are wearing glasses for a long period of time and you play a lot of sports, contacts may be better for you. It all depends on your personal preference. For children, maybe starting with glasses can be a better idea because contacts need them to be very careful. Children tend to be more "careless" so the chance of an eye infection can be higher. Even if you do decide on getting contacts, a pair of backup glasses are recommended just in case something happens with your contacts. I didn't list all of the pros and cons for each, but I wrote down the main ones. Going to your optometrist to see what is best for you is the best.


~My World
(photos credited to all their owners)