Contact lenses vs glasses

If you’ve been prescribed glasses – whether you’re new to your eyewear or a seasoned veteran – you’ve probably had the age-old debate between wearing your glasses or opting for contact lenses. Both options have their own benefits and drawbacks and the best choice will often depend on your individual lifestyle, preferences, and eye health.

In this guide, we will break down the key factors of glasses and contact lenses, including comfort, cost, vision quality, convenience, and aesthetics, to help you make an informed decision and best choice for you.

Comfort level

Each type of lens offers different levels of comfort. Each person’s comfort level is subjective and you may find one option more comfortable than the other.

  • When your glasses are fitted correctly by a specialist, such as an optometrist or a dispensing optician, you shouldn’t be aware of them; however they can cause discomfort around the ears or nose if you have ill-fitting frames. They can also fog up in humid environments or when there’s large changes in temperatures, such as when you open the oven door too quickly.
  • Content lenses, when inserted correctly, should be comfortable and provide a more natural field of vision. However, they can cause dryness or irritation for some, especially in dry climates, when using screens for prolonged times or after a long period of wear.

Ensure your glasses frames have been properly fitted to reduce any pressure or soreness on the bridge of your nose and around your ears or temples. Ensure you change your contact lenses regularly and keep your eyes lubricated with contact lens-friendly eye drops. Remove them if they are causing you any discomfort or pain to avoid damaging your eyes and consult your optician for advice.

Vision correction

Although both options are designed to correct your vision, they offer different levels of vision correction.

  • Glasses provide stable vision and are easy to adjust, however, peripheral vision can be limited by the glasses frame. Certain types of lenses such as varifocals can limit the field of view further, which is why it is important to get your glasses fitted by a professional. Glasses also can have coatings such as anti-reflection which allows for better quality in vision.
  • Contacts can offer a wider field of view as they move with your eyes. However some people experience fluctuations in clarity or may struggle with dry eyes which can blur vision.

Both options can help with astigmatism although it’s thought that the use of contacts may be the better option, particularly for keratoconus (a condition in which the cornea thins and becomes cone-shaped).

Costs

Cost will likely be a factor on many minds when deciding whether to opt for glasses or contact lenses.

  • Glasses: Initial costs for a pair of glasses is likely to be much higher for good-quality frames and lenses. However, maintenance is minimal and glasses can last you for years with proper care as long as your prescription doesn’t change.
  • Contact lenses: A lower initial cost, however the price of daily and monthly contact lenses can add up over time. There is also the additional cost of cleaning solutions and contact lens cases on top of the lenses themselves.
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Lifestyle

You’ll need to take lifestyle into consideration when deciding between contact lenses and glasses. Those with a more active lifestyle may find that glasses get in the way of hobbies and activities while others may find that contact lenses just don’t work with their lifestyle.

  • Glasses: Convenient for quick on-and-off use but may not be practical for active lifestyle or sports. Although, glasses can also break or get lost more easily.
  • Contact lenses: Ideal for sports and active lifestyles, but require more careful hygiene practices. They don’t fog us like glasses and are unaffected by rain, however are not suitable for some sports such as swimming.

Young women playing volleyball indoors.

Many people use both contact lenses and glasses and switch them out depending on what they’re doing at the time. Many opt for contacts when playing sports and switch back to glasses for work – there are many pros and cons of contact lenses for sport.

Style

As well as switching between glasses and contacts for sports or activities, many glasses wearers choose to switch between the two for aesthetic reasons. Personal preference and self-image can play a significant role in choosing between the two.

  • Glasses: Glasses can be a fashion accessory in their own right. They’re available in a wide range of styles, colours, and shapes so many people enjoy using their glasses to express their personality and style.
  • Contact lenses: If you’re looking for a natural look without altering your appearance, contact lenses can be very useful – particularly for wearing to events or parties. They also allow for you to wear non-prescription sunglasses and makeup without interference.

Eye health

Eye health, of course, also plays a big part in your choice between glasses and contact lenses.

  • Glasses: Low maintenance and minimal risk of infection as there is no direct contact with eyes.
  • Contact lenses: Because they come into direct contact with your eyes, there is a large risk of spreading and causing infections or irritation, especially if not properly cleaned between wears or if they’re worn for extended periods of time. They require more care and attention to hygiene when using and can also cause dry eyes which, if left untreated, can cause damage to your eyes. Learn more about dry eyes.

When to choose glasses over contact lenses

You may want to opt to wear glasses over contacts in situations such as if you have chronic eye infections or frequent allergies. They’re also ideal for those who prefer a low-maintenance option or for children and those who may struggle with proper contact lens care. You also may prefer glasses if the thought of touching your eyes makes you uncomfortable.

When to choose contact lenses over glasses

For athletes, those who prefer a more natural look, or people who need a wider field of vision, contact lenses might be the better option. Additionally, if you find glasses uncomfortable or inconvenient, contacts might be the perfect solution.

Can you wear both contact lenses and glasses?

Yes you can wear both contact lenses and glasses, although not at the same time. Many people choose to wear both and use the two types of lenses for different things. Some may choose to wear glasses while at home or at work and put in contact lenses for events or special occasions. You may also choose to wear contact lenses the majority of the time and only wear your glasses when your eyes are tired or need a break. The versatility of having both options appeals to many people in many different ways.

Always ensure that no matter how long you go between wearing your contact lenses, that you clean them well after each wear (if applicable) and store them in the correct way to ensure they don’t damage your eyes.

Interested to learn more or see if your eyes are suitable for contact lenses? Book an eye test today.

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Are contact lenses and glasses prescriptions the same?
Are contact lenses and glasses prescriptions the same?
While both glasses and contact lenses do the same job in correcting your eyesight, there are some obvious differences in how each is worn. Glasses rest on the nose and are positioned away from the eyes, whereas contact lenses are in direct contact with your eyeball. These differences are the fundamental reasons why contact lenses and glasses prescriptions are absolutely not the same. In this article, we’ll explain why in more detail. Contact lens vs glasses prescription – what’s the difference? Quite simply, the lenses in your glasses will be very different to your contact lenses. That’s because each type of lens refracts light differently and therefore during an eye test, different measurements have to be made. The measurements from one eye test are not compatible with the other. So, is the prescription for contacts the same as glasses? The answer is NO because you need to have 2 separate eye tests, which will result in 2 different prescriptions. Contact lens prescription A contact lens prescription comprises a set of measurements relating to the curvature, size and power of the contact lens along with other relevant information. These measurements are carried out by an optometrist, also known as an ophthalmic optician. Glasses prescription An optometrist or ophthalmic optician is also responsible for carrying out the actual eye tests for glasses and lenses. The tests are to determine the strength of the lenses you require, along with other factors such as eye dominance, pupillary distance and axis number. All this information will be included in your glasses prescription. Learn how to read your glasses prescription How to read your contact lens prescription Have you ever wondered what all the abbreviations and letters on your contact lens prescription mean? Read on to find out. What does Base Curve (BC) mean? Base Curve (BC) refers to the specific curve with which a contact lens is made. Different corneal curves will need different base curve lenses, although with modern more flexible contact lens materials, there is some lea way in this. What does Diameter (DIA) mean? This measurement refers to the Diameter (DIA) of the contact lens itself and corresponds with the size of your cornea. It is the measurement from one edge of the lens to the other and is measured in millimetres. What does Power/Sphere (PWR/SPH) mean? The term Power (PWR) together with Sphere (SPH) refers to the strength of the lens. For long-sightedness this figure will show a plus sign (+) and for short-sightedness, it will begin with a minus sign (-). Other contact lens prescription figures People who have an eye defect such as astigmatism, will need to wear toric lenses and therefore will see additional words or abbreviations on their prescription. The same applies to people who might have presbyopia or short-sightedness, and have a prescription for varifocal or multifocal contact lenses. Other contact lens prescription figures are Prism, which refers to a lens or lenses that are designed to correct double vision. Also, Pupillary Distance (PD), which is a term that relates to the distance between the centre of your pupils. It is measured in millimetres and it is important that this measurement is accurate to ensure clear and comfortable vision. OD - Stands for Oculus Dexter, which means ‘right eye’ OS - Stands for Oculus Sinister, which means ‘left eye’ BAL - Stands for Balance, which means both eyes are prescribed the same lenses. DS - Stands for Dioptres Sphere, which means the eyes are spherical in shape. VA - Stands for Visual Acuity, which is a measurement of how clearly a person can see with corrective lenses. This measurement is expressed as a fraction. Your contact lens prescription might also include the brand or manufacturer’s name. What does Cylinder (CYL) mean? The term Cylinder (CYL) refers to an astigmatic prescription. if you have astigmatism then your eye will be more oval-shaped as opposed to globe-shaped. With this condition, you would need specially designed contact lenses called Toric lenses. What does Axis (AX) mean? Axis (AX) refers to the angle that the cylinder or astigmatic correction is placed in order to provide clear vision. This is a number, which is measured in degrees from 0 to 179. What does Addition (ADD) mean? The term Addition (ADD) refers to the amount of additional correction required to see clearly nearby and is given over and above the distance contact lens prescription. Multifocal contact lenses will have an ‘add’ in their prescription. An ‘add’ is generally only required when you develop presbyopia (an age related inflexibility of the intraocular lens, that typically starts between age 40and 45) What does Dominant mean? Most people have a Dominant eye which they unconsciously favour slightly, and a non-dominant eye. Certain contact lenses are best fitted taking this into account (generally multifocal contact lenses). Typically the dominant eye is fitted with the D lens (for better Distance vision) and the non-dominant eye is for better Near vision (this would be the N lens). Can you convert a glasses prescription to a contact lens prescription? No, it’s not possible to do this because the optics of the lenses are different. Likewise, you cannot convert a contact lens prescription to a glasses prescription. How to get a contact lens prescription If you would like to know how to get contact lenses then you will first need to make an appointment with your optician for a contact lens prescription. Your appointment with your optician will include an assessment and a contact lens eye test. This is a different eye test to the type you would need for glasses. After your initial assessment and test, you will then need to have a contact lens fitting. Your optician will demonstrate how to safely insert and remove your lenses and how to care for them. Finally, you will receive your free written contact lens prescription. You can buy your contact lenses from the optician that carried out your eye test or you can buy them from another optician or an online supplier. Contact lenses need to be reviewed more frequently You should be aware that your eyesight can change over time so it’s important you get your eyes retested at least every 2 years. If you notice any changes in your vision at any time before that period then contact your optician for a check-up. Book a contact lens consultation today.
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