Are Glasses Better Than Contacts?

The short answer is "no." So in that case, you may wonder, are contacts better than glasses? Again, no. There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer; each solution has its pros and cons. The choice that is better for you depends on personal factors like lifestyle, convenience, comfort, budget, and style.

Let's take a closer look at some of the benefits and drawbacks of contacts and glasses.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Glasses and Contact Lenses?

Pros: Glasses

• Glasses are a fashion statement that gives you the opportunity to accessorize in ways that reflect your personality and style.
• Glasses reduce the need to touch your eyes, which means you're less likely to irritate your eyes or develop an eye infection.
• If you suffer from dry eyes, sensitive eyes, or allergies, glasses won't make the problem worse in the way that contact lenses could.
• In the long run, glasses are generally cheaper than contact lenses because you don't need to replace them as often. Even if your prescription changes, you can save money by keeping your frames and replacing just the lenses. (If the glasses break, though, you'll be looking at a bigger outlay of money again.)
• Glasses can protect your eyes from dust, debris, and wind.

Cons: Glasses

• Glasses sit about ½ inch from the eye and can distort your peripheral vision.
• Glasses with strong prescriptions can have thick-edged lenses that some people find unappealing. Strong prescriptions can also make your eyes look much bigger or much smaller.
• Glasses can fog up when temperatures change and can become blurry from rain and snow collecting on the lenses.
• Glasses look different on different people, and you may not enjoy the way you look in a pair of glasses that you otherwise like.
• Glasses frames can pinch behind the ears or exert pressure on the bridge of your nose, which can cause headaches and discomfort.

Pros: Contact Lenses

• Contacts conform to your eyes, offering a wider field of vision with less distortion and obstruction than glasses.
• Contact lenses don't slip or slide down when your face gets sweaty during exercise or activity.
• Contacts aren't affected by the weather and won't fog up when temperatures change.
• Contact lenses go with any outfit and with any style.
• You can change the color of your iris with special contact lenses; you can even get special effect contact lenses for Halloween or costume parties.
• Special contact lenses can reshape your cornea overnight so those suffering from myopia can see clearly the following day without needing to wear contacts or glasses.
• Contacts can be a great choice for someone who cannot afford (or is afraid of) laser eye surgery to permanently correct their vision.

Cons: Contact Lenses

• Putting in contact lenses can be difficult and takes practice.
• Contacts reduce the amount of oxygen that gets to your eyes and can cause or worsen dry eye syndrome.
• Contacts require lots of care. Most contacts must be cleaned and disinfected every day to avoid potentially serious eye infections. Daily disposables require less care.
• Most contacts shouldn't be worn overnight. If you accidentally fall asleep with them in, your eyes will become dry and irritated. Extended wear contacts can be worn for longer periods of time.
• For those who spend a lot of time in front of a computer, contacts contribute to the symptoms of computer vision syndrome.

Your optician can help you decide what type of contacts would maximize the benefits and minimize the drawbacks of contacts for you.

Who Can Wear Contact Lenses?

Just about anyone. Contact lens technology has progressed so that there are contact lenses to correct a wide variety of vision problems.

Are Contact Lenses Good for Your Eyes?

Modern contact lenses are healthy for your eyes, as long as you disinfect or replace them as often as directed. That will be daily, weekly, monthly, or longer, depending on the kind of contacts you choose. Problems can occur if you do not take proper care when handling and disinfecting the contacts, or do not dispose of them as frequently as directed.

I Need Bifocals; Should I Choose Glasses or Contacts?

Both glasses and contacts can be made into bifocal, trifocal, and even progressive lenses.

Are Contacts or Glasses Better for Astigmatism?

People with astigmatism—a condition in which the eye is more oval than round, causing visual distortion—can wear either glasses or contacts. Contacts can be as effective or more effective than glasses for people with astigmatism.

Are Contacts Cheaper Than Glasses?

Glasses are generally less expensive in the long run because they do not need to be replaced as often. However, if your glasses break, they can be expensive to replace.

Can I Use Both Contact Lenses and Glasses?

Yes—in fact, people who wear contacts should definitely own a pair of glasses. Generally, you can't wear your contacts 24/7, so glasses for the "off" time are a good idea. And for those who wear glasses more frequently, contacts can be convenient at times you would prefer their look or performance.

Are Contact Lens Prescriptions and Glasses Prescriptions the Same?

No. Contact lens prescriptions are different from eyeglass prescriptions. Your eye doctor can provide accurate prescriptions for both.

Are Contacts or Glasses Better for Athletes and Active People?

Athletes and active types have some special concerns when deciding between contact lenses and prescription eyeglasses.

Pros: Contacts for Athletes

• Contact lenses allow an unrestricted visual field, whereas glasses may obstruct your peripheral vision.
• Contacts stay put, while glasses can become an inconvenience should they shift or fall of.
• Contacts will not get broken during a game, whereas glasses—despite ever-improving strength and durability—may become damaged.
• Contact lenses do not fog or dirty throughout gameplay as glasses tend to do.
• Sport-specific safety goggles fit easily over contacts.

Some of the best contact lenses for sports are multifocal contacts, which improve near and distant vision quality simultaneously. These are especially beneficial for people over the age of forty who may have multiple prescriptions.

Pros: Glasses for Athletes

• A pair of prescription athletic glasses shield your eyes from dust, debris, or sweat.
• Prescription cycling glasses protect your eyes from insects, wind, and road debris.
• Prescription sports goggles or glasses also act as a barrier to foul balls, stray equipment, or other hazards of the game, especially when the lenses are ANSI-rated.
• Glasses do not require the same degree of daily maintenance that contact lenses do, making sports glasses for kids a somewhat more reliable bet.

Contemporary designs and technologies have greatly enhanced the performance of traditional glasses. No-slip grips at the temple tips and fog-resistant lenses make glasses more comfortable and convenient than ever before. You may also consider prescription sunglasses for primarily outdoor activities; these will properly adjust your vision while blocking blinding sunlight.

Our best recommendation for athletes and active hobbyists alike is to keep both contact lenses and glasses on hand. In the event your eyes become too irritated to wear contacts, your glasses will be a welcome fallback. In the reverse situation, when your regular glasses fog up, get streaked with rain, slip out of place, or take impacts you're not a fan of, you can swap out for contacts. Whichever your main preference, it doesn't hurt athletes to keep each option available in an effort to expect the unexpected.

How to Choose the Right Type of Contact Lens

Whether you want to use contacts every day or plan on just occasional wear, you and your optometrist will need to decide which type of contact lens is right for you. Some factors to consider are:

• Price
• Whether you want clear or colored contacts
• Whether you need toric contacts for astigmatism, bifocals, or to reshape the cornea
• Whether you'd like soft contacts or rigid gas permeable hard contacts

Hard contact lenses are more durable than soft lenses and maintain their shape better, but they do have a longer adjustment period than the soft contact lens. Soft contact lenses are known for their comfort. Most are worn during the day and removed at night, but extended wear varieties can be worn continuously for 24 hours or more. Some soft lenses are disposable and are worn for a specified amount of time—sometimes as little as a day—and then thrown out. On the other end of the longevity spectrum, other soft lenses are designed to last for a year when properly cleaned and disinfected.

When you have your eye exam, your eye doctor will determine the prescription you need to correct your vision, and will also measure your eyes so that the contacts will fit comfortably. You can then buy the contacts from the optometrist or order your contacts online. The cost of the contact lens depends on which type you and your eye care specialist have decided on. Many times, lower prices are available online than at the eye doctor's office. Some insurance plans cover the cost of contacts; check into this before your appointment.

How to Purchase Contacts Online

To order contacts online, you will need a prescription from your eye doctor that is less than a year old.

While many people buy their contacts directly from their optometrist, purchasing contacts online will usually save you money. Many people also enjoy the convenience of having the contacts delivered right to their door, and the ability to shop around for the best deal. However, you will want to make sure you order from a reputable company with great products and customer service—check the Better Business Bureau or other online source for reviews.

Check our website for rebates, contact lens discounts, coupon codes, or sales that will save you even more money. Buying contact lenses online can be a cost-efficient and pleasant experience, as long as you know what to look for.

The choice between contact lenses and glasses is a personal decision that must account for factors like style, budget, convenience, and comfort. Happy, healthy eyes are essential, so the "better" choice is the choice that is better for YOU. Whichever one you choose, remember to get your eyes checked every year to update your prescription and keep your eyes in tip-top shape.