Glasses vs Contacts

[ByMyBeard]

So, I have finally reached the age where my eyes are no longer functioning properly. I've been noticing that things like digital clock displays on the other side of the room are more blurry than typical, and a recent eye exam confirmed it. I've been blessed with 20/20 vision up to this point, so this will be new to me. My prescription is not strong (-0.5 both eyes), but probably best to get some correction and start getting used to it.

My initial thought was to get a pair of glasses with transition lenses and be done with it. I feel like glasses would be easier than dealing with contacts, and my eyes are pretty sensitive to bright lights (insert Gremlin noise), so it seems the best option. Until I tell SWMBO, who says she HATES when transition lenses don't clear indoors and suggests contacts since I wear sunglasses frequently. Which means I may compromise and get contacts...

BUT, I wanted to see what opinions yall had on this issue. Surely some here have had both contacts and glasses, and can share their experience/thoughts.I'd also appreciate any insight on where to get glasses, as apparently these things are really expensive...even with "good" eye insurance (per eye doctor). Thanks in advance.

 

[EclipseRedRing]

I am in my late 50s and have been wearing glasses for about 10 years. I visit an optician every two years for an eye test to obtain a prescription and then use that to purchase glasses online. A test in the UK is typically about £20 but my employer provides a voucher for a free eye test every two years as I use a VDU in my work. I considered contacts at first but went with glasses and I am pleased I made that choice. I now have several pairs with frames in different styles and colours which I switch for variety.

It is confusing at first but by trying on glasses in a store you can get an idea of what suits you. Take someone with you for advice and also take some photos. Make a note of the numbers etched on the frame and understand what they mean. In the UK there are three numbers which define the lens width, the bridge width, and the length of the arms. That way you can be pretty sure that the frames you order online will suit you. UK prices vary from as low as £15 for two pairs of basic no frill prescription glasses, up to a few hundred pounds for designer brands, with varifocal lenses, tinting, coatings etc.

If you have the same prescription for both eyes then it is perfectly possible you could use ready made glasses. You can get basic "distance glasses" on Amazon for £20 and you can choose the strength i.e. +0.5, +1 etc. But it is the same for both lenses. If you need a different prescription for each eye then that will not work. Good luck.

 

[WThomas0814]

I started wearing glasses when I was in the 2nd grade, then switched to contacts when I was 15-16. My contacts eventually morphed into multi focal when I was around 50. I always saw better with contacts than glasses, so I only wore the glasses when I woke in the morning until my pre-work shower.

When I was 60, I was diagnosed with cataracts and had lens replacement in both eyes. I had my distant vision corrected; I now need reading glasses, but, my vision measures better than 20/20+ in both eyes. I have multifocal contacts (-0.5 to 2.0) but I literally never wear them. The -0.5 makes virtually no difference and occasionally donning reading glasses is easier than dealing with contacts, especially when away from home.

I would, however, use contacts if I needed glasses full time. The idea of wearing glasses all day does not appeal to me in the slightest. Unless, of course, you wanted something stylish for a new look. In which case, get both. You should, anyway. Contact lenses get lost, eyes get irritated and prevent you from wearing them, you don't want to sleep in front of the TV wearing contacts, etc.

You can get your contacts and/or glasses both at Lens Crafters of some other chain. They generally have an opthamologist on staff to oversee all the measurements and such. They also carry all the major designer frames and they are easy to find when you're away from home if you need a repair or adjustment. Your insurance will usually pay a pretty good chunk on contacts (or glasses). You can always fill the contact prescription online at about half of retail.

Good luck with whatever path you choose.

 

[NorthwestCorner]

I wear glasses, Silhouettes, they weigh exactly 11.9 grams. They’re made in Austria, frameless, and so light I forget about them. The wife wears disposable daily contacts. She’s been wearing contacts all her life. Completely used to it. Her optometrist did tell her recently though that her eyes need to breathe, and she should probably use glasses on the weekends going forward. That might be specific to her eyes, as I’ve never heard that before.

It’s just personal preference.

 

[mikhou]

I have worn contacts for the last 20+ years, and I MUCH prefer them to glasses. In the last few years, I have had to start using reading glasses which I keep in a hard case in my pocket. I don't mind using reading glasses except when I am teaching (pastor to college students at our church) and have to constantly put reading glasses on and off to read my Bible and notes. So I wear contacts and use readers 90% of the time, but when I'm teaching, I swap out for bifocals.

 

[njpaddy]

Even today, in my late 70s, my distance and peripheral are still fine for driving without glasses. Long retired, most of my day is spent on a pc. 40 years ago, an eye doc said I needed bifocals. My first pair were graduated (without the line). Those made me dizzy, so I got a pair with the line. I couldn't adjust to those either, so I've only been getting just the reading lenses filled since. Now long into retirement, my last readers are still fine for computer, but I need a stronger reading lens for reading a book. A fellow member recommended a doc nearby. She's on my call list for next week. Yet again, I'll just ask for a stronger reading lens.

 

[luvmysuper]

Having worn glasses and contacts my entire life, I can say that contacts are nice for the vanity factor and that's it.
I have used transition and clear lenses a long time, and the current version of transition lenses darken fast when you go out, and clear just as fast when you come inside. The older version took some time, but it isn't that way anymore.
Contacts can be useful if you wish to avoid frame type glasses, but honestly I think you get used to the frames much quicker than you get used to having a foreign object in your eye.
Couple that with the very real need to deal with the contacts in as far as cleaning them, handling them, storing them etc.
There are eye disorders that can be directly associated with improper use or cleaning of contact lenses.
If you've never worn either, but wear sunglasses frequently - I can tell you that you're probably going to be much more comfortable with frame glasses over contacts.
If you get dust in your eye the difference between contacts and glasses is immeasurable.
If you have a need to NOT wear them, taking off glasses is EZ. Contacts - not so much.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

I've been wearing glasses for about 40 years. I had contacts for about 6 years, mostly as a teen, and they did provide better vision in general compared to the glasses. But living out in farm country with a lot of dust it was just not worth the discomfort for me. I ditched them when I went to college and never considered going back.

 

[Legion]

I wore contacts for many years and preferred them, but when I got older I found I could not read or see things up close with them in. I had to go to glasses so I can take them off every time I need to read my phone, etc. it’s a pain.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

I wore contacts for many years and preferred them, but when I got older I found I could not read or see things up close with them in. I had to go to glasses so I can take them off every time I need to read my phone, etc. it’s a pain.

I finally broke down and got bifocals (progressive) a couple weeks ago. I can see my phone again.

 

[ColtRevolver]

I am 56.and have worn contacts for being nearsighted a little over 40 years. I have never had any trouble with them. In my late 40's, I started to need readers. My doctor recommended multifocal contacts. I tried them and have been very happy. I can read the finest of print in bright light. In dim light, I benefit from readers. The only time I wear my prescription glasses is at the end of the day before bedtime.

As far as costs go, I buy online both contacts and glasses and save a considerable amount compared to what the local optician charges.

 

[ColtRevolver]

I wore contacts for many years and preferred them, but when I got older I found I could not read or see things up close with them in. I had to go to glasses so I can take them off every time I need to read my phone, etc. it’s a pain.

Why couldn't you use readers with your single vision contacts?
If you liked contacts, you should look into multifocal lenses.

 

[PintoPlain]

I've been wearing corrective lenses for over 30 years. I started with glasses then went to disposable contacts for playing rugby. I still kept a pair of glasses in my gear bag as I would occasionally lose a lens on the field.

As I now require varifocal lenses, contacts are a more difficult process. I just stick with the glasses. I do have a pair of prescription sunglasses for use when required as I do like the ability to see. I should probably get a second pair to keep in the car.

I just find glasses easier as you pick them up and put them on. Contacts can be fiddly, especially when you first get them and you're still getting used to putting them in and taking them out. If you don't have the daily disposable ones, cleaning and storing the contacts is something else you will have to contend with.

 

[Lightcs1776]

I don’t like the idea of sticking things in my eye or having lasik on my only set of eyes, so I use glasses. Not a huge inconvenience, as I only need them for driving and watching tv. It is not completely rational. Two of my adult kids wear contacts and appreciate them. Just my thing, so it will continue to be glasses for me.

 

[beginish]

If funds allow and in true B&B fashion….get 2 pairs of glasses one indoor and the other prescription sunglasses. Alternatively get regular glasses with clip on sunglasses.

 

[psfred]

I have worn gas permeable hard contact lenses for 41 years. However, I am severely near sighted and my glasses are around 1/4" thick at the edges and are very heavy. Plastic lenses are better, but now that I need bifocals they can be annoying. Also have a moderate astigmatism correction that complicates the issue. Soft lenses were not an option.

Given the long adjustment time for gas permeable lenses (several months before you can wear them all day) and your fairly minor correction (-2.75 and -3.75 for me) I'd not bother with contacts. Soft ones will not give you the very clear vision glasses or hard contacts do, but you will have to balance that with the desire to wear sunglasses. One of the reasons I got contacts was so that I would afford good polarized sunglasses, prescription ones were far too expensive for me.

 

[StillShaving]

My vision correction is greater than yours, but I never really considered getting contacts as I did not like the idea of them in my eye and the extra cleaning/maintenance involved. But I should probably try some to see if they work better in everyday life.

My issue with glasses is that I did not like the distortion caused by the progressive lens, forcing one to turn their head more than their eyes. I settled on having roughly 3 pairs of single correction glasses, one for reading, one for close up activities like reading a computer monitor or doing a close-up task like painting with a brush (these somewhat double as safety googles when doing DIY tasks around the house), and one for distance. Then I added some sunglasses and bifocals, basically different combinations to find what worked best. Even though I wear glasses for most tasks I don't wear them when walking around, preparing food, etc. The on-and-off again wearing throughout the day may have hindered my ability to adapt to them, but I feel much more comfortable navigating 3d space without glasses. Bifocals are the worse to try walking around the house as once you look down to see something on a table, stovetop, etc. you have to stop and take them off.

None of that may apply to you. But as for buying glasses, I have bought many pairs from Zenni. They and a few other online sellers provide decent quality at a good price. It is a great way to try out different frames with different dedicated single vision Rx in order to see if that frame is comfortable to wear before you consider reordering a similar pair with more features, i.e. maybe you then want the same frame but this time with progressive lens, bi-focals, sunglasses, transition lenses, different lens matertials/thickness, different lens coatings, etc. There are almost too many options offered to figure out what is the best value and most functional for your usage.

 

[zanxion]

I wear glasses. I have tried contact lenses, but had no luck with them. My eyes dry frequently and the contact lens needs an overly wet surface to stay comfortably. I got frequent irritations, especially on the left eye and once, I sneezed and lost my left contact lens. I have been so unlucky with contact lenses, and I tried really hard to get used to them, that I gave them up and got back to glasses. I think it is a YMMV thing. Others I know, they use contact lenses only.

 

[ByMyBeard]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I'm not sure if it's a mental thing or not, but I feel like since I've been given a prescription and a "diagnosis" of being nearsighted, things seem more blurry than they previously did. I'm not excited about this next stage/season of needing vision correction, but there are certainly worst things and I'm sure I'll get used to it. I really appreciate everyone's insight and hearing your experiences. It sounds like, as in all things, YMMV.

For now, based mostly on the opinion of SWMBO, I'm looking to schedule a contact fitting. In addition, in true B&B fashion, I plan to get a pair of glasses for times when my eyes "need a rest" or for the scenario where the contacts just aren't working for me. The really tricky part that I can see is how to deal with sunglasses, so there may be a pair of prescription sunglasses there as well (because I certainly will need them for driving...). I'm sure SWMBO will have an opinion on clip-on sunglasses.

 

[Jamolay]

I have opinions on glasses! I am a neurologist and have resolve many a headache with glasses advice.

Questions:
Do you only need magnification? (No Astigmatism or other issue requiring a more complex lens)
Do you need readers? (Around 45 yo most people need readers, but if you are only nearsighted, you may not)
Do you spend a lot of time on the computer? (Computer range glasses are important, if you also need readers)