While for some people glasses are part of their usual outfit, others are passionate advocates of contact lenses. Both glasses and lenses have evolved steadily over the years and have their advantages and disadvantages. But which is better and where are the main differences? This article will help you weigh the pros and cons of glasses and contact lenses. You’ll also get tips and info on all aspects of wearing and purchasing the two visual aids.
Advantages of glasses
Almost any form of visual impairment can be easily treated with glasses. The following advantages are also offered by glasses:
- Glasses are practical and flexible, because they can be put on and taken off at any time.
- Glasses do not strain the eyes if they are correctly adjusted to the respective visual acuity. The eye is not touched, the glasses take over the function of the lens “from a safe distance”.
- Even during colds, infections of the eye or hay fever are glasses can be worn without problems. It does not lead to eye dryness or accumulation of germs.
- Glasses protect the eye from external influences such as drafts, dust, insects or sand.
- In a traffic control, it is clearly visible, so no demand is necessary when the driver’s license refers to the visual impairment.
Appearance as a disadvantage of glasses
Glasses are often seen as a fashion accessory, but not everyone likes themselves with glasses. Especially children and teenagers often find glasses embarrassing or even teased by other children for it. But adults are also often bothered by their glasses when it comes to appearance. Ordinary makeup is difficult to see under glasses, while too much makeup can clash with the glasses. In addition, people who wear glasses must make sure that their appearance matches their glasses. Glasses are a fashion element of appearance and sometimes difficult to choose, as they must match any outfit – or else buy several pairs of glasses to choose from.
Other disadvantages of glasses
In addition, eyeglasses have other disadvantages:
- Glasses are not suitable in every situation to compensate for vision problems. As soon as they are taken off, the visual impairment is back. However, they should be taken off during sports, otherwise they also carry a certain risk of injury.
- Sunglasses either need lenses in the correct prescription or must be worn over the glasses.
- If the glasses do not fit properly, they can press on the nose or behind the ears.
- If there is a nickel allerge, the material of the glasses frame can cause contact dermatitis (“allergy to glasses”) in rare cases.
- Sometimes glasses complicate rather than facilitate vision, and it does not always help then to clean them. For example, glasses cause problems when they fog up, reflect or restrict the field of vision.
- You should always protect your glasses from scratches and other damage, because buying new ones can be very expensive.
Advantages of contact lenses
Contact lenses are well suited to discreetly conceal a visual impairment. Contact lenses are available – depending on the purpose and condition of the eye – in hard and soft form. Even a change in eye color is possible. Contact lenses that are particularly permeable to oxygen are also suitable for sensitive eyes – in this case lipid drops help to keep them moist. This also speaks in favor of contact lenses:
- Contact lenses do not slip and fog up, and they do not leave pressure points.
- They can also be worn in the sauna and during sports, sometimes even swimming.
- There are daily and monthly lenses, so they can be changed regularly if there is an increased risk of infection.
- The contact lenses also do not have to be considered in terms of fashion aspects and in make-up.
- Contact lenses can be easily combined with normal sunglasses.
- Even difficult cases such as astigmatism can be corrected with special contact lenses.
Disadvantages of contact lenses
With contact lenses, the cost can quickly go up. While there is the right contact lens for each special case, they can be very expensive.Daily or monthly lenses are usually not expensive, but are associated with ongoing costs for the regular purchase of lenses and care products. For glasses, on the other hand, you spend money only once and the next time again only after years – provided that the required strength does not change. If contact lenses are worn too long or are poorly tolerated, contact dermatitis can also occur. In many cases, the eyelid inflammation is triggered by contact lens fluids or cleaning agents. Contact lenses are also poorly suited for hay fever, as they can fall out of the eye or even damage the eye if there is too much tear fluid or if there is an infection. In addition, pollen allergy often requires eye drops to be instilled, and contact lenses are a hindrance to this. Therefore, contact lens wearers should also have a spare pair of glasses. In addition, handling lenses is relatively laborious compared to eyeglasses. Some people have difficulty or even fear to insert the contact lenses. In addition, hygiene and proper handling are particularly important so that the eye is not injured.
How to determine the contact lens values?
If one wants to change from glasses to contact lenses, it is first necessary to determine the correct contact lens values. Different values apply to contact lenses than to glasses, since they are located at a greater distance from the eye. It is also not easy to convert the values for eyeglasses into contact lens values. Ideally, you should therefore consult an ophthalmologist or optician. This can determine whether the eye is suitable for the use of contact lenses and measure the correct values for contact lenses (diopter, radius, diameter, cylinder and axis). Among other things, the amount and composition of the tear fluid also affects the choice of the right contact lens.
Can glasses and contact lenses be worn alternately?
In principle, a combination of glasses and contact lenses is not problematic. Many contact lens beginners wear the two visual aids alternately to accustom the eyes slowly to lenses. Others reduce the cost of contact lenses. Still others wear colored contact lenses under their glasses or wear the contact lenses only on special occasions, such as going out or playing sports. When combining glasses and contact lenses, it is important to remember that both visual aids must have values that are precisely matched to the eye, otherwise they will strain the eye and cause dizziness and headaches. However, even if the visual impairment has been determined up to date and both visual aids have been adjusted to it, individuals may not tolerate the combination of glasses and contact lenses well. By the way: Contact lenses are a visual aid that can be equated with glasses. They may be worn instead of glasses when driving, even if glasses are listed on the driver’s license.
From what age contact lenses?
Often, at the latest in puberty, the desire arises to replace glasses with contact lenses. This is generally considered unproblematic: even young children can wear contact lenses if they know how to insert them themselves, or if they have their parents insert them. It cannot harm them if they are used properly and changed regularly. However, since hardly any parents are interested in inserting contact lenses even to young children, it is mostly teenagers who switch from glasses to contact lenses for the first time at their own request.