Contact Lenses
Contact Lenses vs Glasses
Glasses are simpler, cheaper and carry no infection risk. Contact lenses give wider peripheral vision, no fogging or rain, and suit sport far better. Most people are best served by having both.
This is rarely an either or decision in practice. Most contact lens wearers keep glasses for evenings, for days when the eyes are tired, and for the mornings when getting a lens in is the last thing anyone wants to do. Most glasses wearers who take up lenses do so for specific situations rather than to replace glasses entirely.
The comparison below is intended to help you decide what mix suits you, rather than to pick a winner.
Contact lenses compared with glasses
| Contact lenses | Glasses | |
|---|---|---|
| Peripheral vision | Full, moves with the eye | Limited by the frame edge |
| Rain and fogging | Unaffected | Both are a problem |
| Sport | Stable and unobtrusive | Can be knocked or broken |
| Infection risk | Real, managed by hygiene | None |
| Dry climates | Can become uncomfortable | Unaffected |
| Daily effort | Insertion, removal, cleaning | Put them on |
| Ongoing cost | Recurring supply and solution | One purchase, lasts years |
| Appearance | Nothing visible | Part of how you look, for better or worse |
| Screen work | Can dry out over long sessions | Task specific lenses available |
| Irregular corneas | Specialty lenses correct what glasses cannot | Limited correction possible |
Which is right for you
- Choose contact lenses for sport, for full peripheral vision, for irregular corneas that glasses cannot correct, and for occasions where glasses are impractical.
- Choose glasses for simplicity, for zero infection risk, for long screen days, and for tired or unwell eyes.
- Most people do best with both, using each where it suits.
Questions and answers
Is one better for eye health?
Glasses carry no risk at all. Contact lenses are safe when handled properly but the risk is not zero. That difference is worth respecting rather than dismissing.
Do contacts give better vision?
For high prescriptions and irregular corneas, often yes, because there is no distortion from the frame edge and no image size difference. For most moderate prescriptions the two are comparable.
Can I wear both?
Yes, and most wearers do. Having current glasses is important anyway, because there will be days when lenses are not an option.
Talk to someone about contact lenses vs glasses
Appointments are scheduled two per hour, so there is time to answer questions properly. Call (480) 706-3937 or request a time online.