Whether you struggle to see things nearby or far away, finding the right vision correction solution is essential for maintaining your visual acuity and overall quality of life. That said, the two most popular options that patients with less-than-adequate eyesight turn to these days are contact lenses and eyeglasses. Each of these choices comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, meaning that it’s sometimes tough to determine which is suitable for your needs. Here’s a closer look at some of the pros and cons of both contact lenses and eyeglasses to help you make the best choice.
Highlighting the Benefits of Eyeglasses
There are several advantages that you gain when you choose eyeglasses, including:
- They’re easy and relatively inexpensive to clean and maintain in the long term.
- One pair can last for a very long time without the need for replacement, assuming little-to-no changes in the patient’s vision.
- They’re very easy to use and don’t touch the eyes directly, meaning there’s a lower risk of infection.
- They provide moderate eye protection from UV light, blue screen light, and more.
- Fully customizable lenses and frames.
Eyeglasses aren’t perfect, unfortunately, and also come with some disadvantages:
- They can become uncomfortable after being worn for an extended period and can become dislodged due to sweating or facial movement.
- The lenses can become fogged, scratched, or smudged.
- They don’t provide peripheral vision benefits.
- They are generally more expensive to replace than contact lenses.
A Closer Look at Contact Lenses
Here’s a breakdown of some of the pros of contact lenses:
- They provide more of a natural field of vision without interference from fogging or blurry peripherals.
- They don’t drastically change your appearance like glasses frames.
- They provide greater freedom of movement during physical exercise and movement.
- They allow you to wear non-prescription sunglasses easily.
- They’re relatively cheap to replace.
However, they aren’t without a few cons of their own:
- Since they are worn on the eyes, there’s a higher risk of infection than with eyeglasses.
- They can be uncomfortable to wear if you have dry eyes or other eye conditions.
- They generally require more upkeep, cleaning, and maintenance.
- They can also worsen the symptoms of digital eye strain, which occurs after using electronic screens and devices for prolonged periods.
Which Is Right for Me?
In the end, the choice between contact lenses and eyeglasses simply boils down to personal preferences, lifestyle habits, and eye health. Contact lenses offer natural vision and are considered esthetically more appealing, but they tend to require more meticulous maintenance and also carry a higher risk of eye irritation. On the other hand, eyeglasses provide greater ease of use, notable eye protection, and a very wide range of fashion options and customizations that many patients find exciting—though they can still sometimes obstruct vision and may not be ideal for super active individuals. In any case, to make the best decision, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact your trusted professional for an eyesight examination and expert advice!
About the Practice
Under the leadership of Dr. David Salibian (DMD) and Dr. Nayiri Ajoian (OD), the talented team at EyeSmile Dentistry and Optometry of Belmont is thrilled to provide patients and families in the Belmont community with an answer to their dental and optometry needs under the same roof! If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to schedule a visit for you or someone you know, feel free to contact the practice online or by phone for additional information or assistance. Telephone: (617) 484-7869.