Lenses Vs. Glasses

People with sight problems face the decision of whether to get contact lenses or glasses. For some, the sheer fear of putting something into their eyes has them reaching to glasses, whereas others may find that wearing something on their face is uncomfortable or inconvenient. Glasses and contact lenses have various advantages and disadvantages, depending on each wearer's preference.

Correction

• Neither glasses nor contact lenses can correct astigmatisms. An astigmatism is the irregular shaping of the cornea, which causes the vision field to be distorted. There is, however, a new type of contact called Ortho-K that can correct astigmatisms and myopia temporarily. These lenses work by flattening the cornea as the wearer sleeps. Once the wearer remove the lenses the vision is clear. The downside is that the sight slowly returns to normal over a day or two.

Precision

• Both glasses and contact lenses give precise and clear vision whether you are nearsighted and farsighted. Eyeglasses can give a crystal clear visual path in front, although the peripheral view may be blurry or blocked by thick stems. Contact lenses give you a more natural sight path, since you can see straight ahead and turn your eyes side to side without losing clarity or peering through a blocked view.

Advantages

• Endless styles, sizes, colors and brands of eyeglass frames exist. In fact, a few people with perfect vision still wear glasses to spiff up their appearance on occasion. Contact lenses are also worn by both people with and without visual problems for cosmetic reasons, possibly to change eye color. Like glasses, contacts come in several colors and brands. They are easy to store and carry, and can be worn for extended time periods, or for one-time use.

Disadvantages

• Both types of vision correction have disadvantages. Glasses, if not handled correctly, can break, bend or scratch. These repairs are sometimes so costly that you have no choice but to buy a new pair. Glasses get lost, or even stolen, since they can be resold in some places.

  If you are a contact lens wearer and your eyes become too dry, the lenses may fall out of or stick to your eyes. Finding them might be an onerous task after they fall out, forcing you to wear a new pair or buy a new pair. Most important, contact lenses, if not cleaned correctly, can give you conjunctivitis (pink eye), which can cause permanent vision problems.

Maintenance

• Glasses often come with a kit containing an eyeglass case, small cloth and lens cleaning spray. When you take your glasses off, always put them in their case to minimize the risks of breakage, or scratching. The cloth and spray help to keep the lenses clear and dust free.

  You must maintain contact lenses by using saline solution, a sterile cleanser and re-wetting drops. You must remove most contacts every day and soak them overnight in sterile solution. This helps to rid bacteria and foreign bodies from the lenses; it also cleanses them so they maintain their clarity. Use re-wetting drops throughout the day to lubricate dry eyes.