Contact Lens vs Traditional Glasses

If you are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism, you will need vision correction to see clearly. The most common types of corrective eyewear are eyeglasses and contact lenses. At Wilken Family Eye Care, serving Coppell and Lewisville, TX, we provide both contacts and glasses. Our team will help you determine which ones are best for you. Here are some factors to consider when choosing eyewear.

Eyeglasses

Eyeglasses are the most common form of vision correction. If you plan to choose glasses over contacts, you should understand the benefits and downsides.

Pros

  • There is no risk of infection. Since eyeglasses sit an inch or two from your eyes, you cannot develop an infection while wearing them.
  • They won’t exasperate conditions of the eye. Eyeglasses won’t make eye conditions, such as dry eye syndrome and conjunctivitis, worse.
  • Glasses are relatively inexpensive. If you choose an inexpensive frame, your glasses won’t cost too much.

Cons

  • Since glasses are worn on your face, they don’t provide a natural appearance.
  • When you are wearing glasses, the frame can obstruct your vision. In addition, dirty lenses can also obstruct your vision.
  • If you are an athlete, you will need to wear sports goggles. These are safe, but they aren’t very convenient.

Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are a common alternative to eyeglasses. Like glasses, contacts have pros and cons. If you choose contact lenses, you will still need a pair of eyeglasses as a backup.

Pros

  • Contacts look more natural than glasses, because you won’t have an eyeglass frame on your face.
  • When you wear contacts, you won’t have to worry about frames or lenses obstructing your vision.
  • Contact lenses eliminate the need for bulky sports goggles that can be inconvenient and can obstruct your vision.
  • You can purchase contacts that can change the color of your eyes, allowing you to have the eye color you always wished you had.

Cons

  • Since contact lenses sit right on your eye, there is a risk of infection. This is especially true if you wear your contacts to bed if they aren’t designed to be, or if you don’t clean them properly. You can also get an infection if you wear the same pair of contacts longer than they are designed to be worn.
  • Contacts can exasperate conditions of the eye. Soft contacts absorb the moisture in your eye, which can make the symptoms of dry eye worse. There are special lenses that you may need to wear. If you have an infection such as conjunctivitis, you won’t be able to wear contact lenses until the infection is treated.
  • A year supply of contacts can cost more than glasses. Since you need a pair of glasses as a backup, you will need to pay for both. Specialty lenses can also be more expensive than traditional contacts.

Visit Our Optometrists in Coppell, TX for Contact Lenses or Eyeglasses

If you need corrective eyewear, our team will determine your prescription and guide you on what form is best for you. At Wilken Family Eye Care, serving Coppell and Lewisville, TX, our eye doctors will help you decide between contact lenses and eyeglasses. Call us today to schedule an appointment.

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