Glasses vs. Contacts: Which One Is Right for You?

Most Americans need some kind of vision correction due to difficulty seeing clearly up close or at a distance. If you’re among them, choosing the ideal corrective option can make seeing clearly easier.

At our office in Riverside, California, Dr. Richard Bozner and the team provide comprehensive eye exams and guidance so you can make the best choice for your vision needs.

If you’re sorting out whether eyeglasses or contact lenses are right for you, consider the following pros, cons, and differences.

How glasses and contacts work

Glasses and contacts correct your vision by letting your eyes focus light in the proper part of your retina, the light-sensitive tissue layer at the back of your eye. The curved lenses bend and manipulate light, leading to clearer, sharper vision. 

The functional difference between glasses and contacts is merely where the lenses sit — either outside your eyes when you wear glasses or directly on your eyes with contacts. 

Pros and potential cons of glasses

People who love glasses often appreciate the simplicity of their use. You simply put them on and go, no special cleaning solutions or touching of the eyes required.

You can also remove glasses anytime, which may help if you only need vision correction for certain activities, such as driving or reading. Glasses can also provide a fun way to show your style or enhance your appearance if you prefer how you look wearing frames. 

On the downside, eyeglasses may distort your vision around the edges, especially if you have astigmatism or a strong prescription. In other words, your peripheral vision might suffer. 

And not everyone likes the way it feels to wear glasses, in general or during activities like playing sports. Your lenses may also fog up or get splattered by rain.

Pros and potential cons of contacts

Contact lenses give you more natural-seeming vision compared to glasses. Once appropriate lenses are in place, you look and see as you would without a vision problem. 

They also move with your eyes, without any issues with peripheral vision or fogging. And contacts stay in place even when you’re physically active. 

Contacts may not be your ideal pick, however, if taking care of them feels like a hassle. You need to clean and store them properly every time you remove them. And if you fail to wash your hands before handling your lenses, you could end up with an eye infection.

Overall, adjusting to wearing and caring for your contacts may take a bit of time.

If you have severe astigmatism, your vision may blur when your contacts rotate, depending on the type of contacts you wear. And you may still require glasses for reading if you struggle with both near and far vision.

Choosing between glasses and contacts

The best way to ensure you make an ideal eye correction choice is to work with professionals who can offer guidance and support while answering your questions. Even then, you may not know which option you prefer until you try them both. 

Our team can recommend glasses or contacts based on your specific vision challenges, lifestyle habits, and preferences. In addition to eyeglasses and custom contact lenses, we offer LASIK surgery as a longer-lasting, round-the-clock solution.

To learn more about the differences between glasses and contacts or get the vision care you need, call Dr. Bozner's Vision Lab Optometry today.