How To Choose Between Glasses And Contact Lenses

Chula Vista, El Centro, La Mesa, National City Eye Doctor

Everyone wants to have clear, sharp vision, but not everyone is lucky enough to have been born with it. For those with myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or astigmatism (an oval distortion of the cornea), corrective lenses can help to give you what nature didn't. The most common options are glasses or contact lenses. Some people come to our office with a strong preference for one or the other, but others want to consider the options further before deciding. How can you choose between glasses and contacts? What are the advantages of each?

Advantages Of Glasses

Some of the advantages of glasses include:

• May be more comfortable for some patients, because there's nothing touching the surface of the eye. Glasses won't irritate sensitive eyes.
• Easier to put on than contacts.
• Reduced risk of infection, because there is no need to touch the surface of the eye to insert them.
• Easier and cheaper to maintain. There's no need for nightly cleaning solutions, and glasses cost less and don't need to be replaced as often.
• Personal expression. Some people enjoy the look of glasses, and showing their personal style through choosing their frames.

Advantages Of Contacts

On the other hand, contacts have several advantages, including:

• Aesthetics. Some people find contacts to be more attractive than glasses, because their eyes and faces are not hidden by glasses.
• May be more comfortable, with no pressure on the nose or ears.
• Don't interfere with the visual field, as certain styles of glasses frames may do.
• Easier to wear while performing physical activities (such as playing sports).
• Less dependent on weather conditions, because they won't fog up.

What If You Want To Be Free Of Corrective Lenses?

If you want to be free of corrective lenses completely, there are other options for vision correction besides glasses or contacts. Some patients choose to have a LASIK procedure, which reshapes the surface of the cornea (the clear part at the front of the eye) in order to provide clearer vision. If you're interested in this option, please ask us for a referral to a trusted laser eye surgeon. Having LASIK in a budget clinic could result in permanent damage to your eyes.

Another option for permanent vision correction is the placement of intraocular lenses (IOLs). The most common use of these is for treatment of cataracts; however, this surgery can also result in the correction of your vision, reducing or eliminating your dependence on glasses or contacts.

Do You Have Concerns About Your Vision? Looking For A Chula Vista, El Centro, La Mesa, Or National City Eye Doctor?

It's important to have regular eye exams by a professional eye doctor, not only to check your vision and offer you corrective lenses if necessary, but also to detect problems like glaucoma, so that you can get any treatment you need to protect your eyes.

Here in our three offices, we care for people with a variety of conditions of the eye, from diabetic eye disease to cataracts to ocular melanoma. If you're looking for a Chula Vista, El Centro, or La Mesa eye doctor, please contact our office to schedule your appointment.