The choice of whether to wear contact lenses or glasses is highly individual. Your vision needs, lifestyle, personal comfort, finances, and sense of style all factor into what’s best for you. The good news is there are more options than ever before, making it easier to achieve excellent vision, comfort, and convenience.

Starting with glasses

If you have never worn eyeglasses before, you may find that they take some getting used to. But rest assured, having them on your face and remembering where you put them will become a habit. Glasses are easy because they require little care and maintenance beyond a quick cleaning. Properly fit glasses are comfortable and will soon feel natural. You might even forget you have them on!

Glasses have the advantage of being durable and less expensive than contact lenses, because they don’t need to be replaced as often. For some wearers, glasses also become an important fashion statement and even part of their identity.

Graduating to contacts

Contact lenses are clear, ultra-thin discs that conform to the surface of your eye. That means they won’t interfere with activities including sports, and they won’t be affected by snow and rain, or fog up from temperature shifts. Contacts also provide the best peripheral vision.

Getting used to contacts includes touching your eyes when you apply them and taking the time required for proper lens care and hygiene. Disposable lenses, however, can cut down on the care needed to avoid eye irritation and infection.

Advances in contact lens technology mean that most people can use contacts for vision correction, including bi-focal designs. Colored and special-effect lenses are available for wearers who’d like to change how they look. Extended wear contacts can even be worn while sleeping; others can be so comfortable that you might accidentally forget to take them out before bedtime. If you suffer from dry eyes, the appropriate lenses or treatments may allow you to wear contacts comfortably.

The need for both

All contact lens wearers should, however, have up-to-date glasses as a backup. Glasses allow you to give your eyes a break from contacts and, if necessary, to deal with any irritation or infection. You may also find that using contacts part-time works best for you. Frequent computer users can benefit from wearing glasses in order to avoid computer vision syndrome, which has symptoms including eyestrain and headaches.

Part of making the right choice is consulting with your eye care professional. The experts at Vistar Eye Center can explain your options, including opportunities to test contact lenses, and will discuss the pros and cons of glasses and contacts with you.