Contacts vs glasses. Which is better for you?
If you’ve been trying to decide whether to go for contact lenses or frames for your next prescription, we’ve got the lowdown for you here.
Visual appeal
Contacts: For many people, contact lenses offer a sense of freedom from glasses. After all, no one needs to know that you have vision problems and you don’t need to worry about finding a pair of glasses that suit you.
You can still wear your favourite sunglasses without having to get a prescription fitted.
Glasses: You may be lucky enough to find some frames that really suit your face, and make you feel great.
Perhaps you could select a few different frames that will suit various outfits or situations (for instance some for sport, for going out at night time, or others for a more casual look).
Related link: A look back at glasses over the years
Ease of use
Contacts: If you have any qualms about touching in or near your eye, contact lenses could take some getting used to.
There is also a little bit to understand about storage of the lenses (usually in a saline solution) and how to handle them safely to avoid infection or discomfort. Your optometrist will run through this with you when you are ordering them.
Specsavers offer a free contact lens fitting and trial so why not test them out before you commit to using them long term.
If you end up liking contact lenses, Specsavers also offer the convenience of being able to order more lenses online (and they do home delivery too).
Glasses: For many people, glasses are a first choice as they are very easy to use – simply slip them on and go.
Some people find it difficult when their glasses aren’t suitable for playing their favourite sports such as squash or swimming. In this instance you could look at some prescription goggles, or even just have some disposable contact lenses for specific occasions such as this.
Cost
Contacts: your lenses will cost you money upfront to purchase, and then there is the ongoing cost of replacing them as they expire (as well as the saline solution for storage). If you are only using lenses some of the time, and glasses at other times, you will find the cost per use is minimal.
Glasses: Glasses have a huge variation in price. You will pay more for certain prescriptions to be fitted (for instance multifocals tend to cost more than single vision lenses). There is also a huge selection of regular frames all the way up to designer brands.
Specsavers offer some “no gap” options depending on which health fund you are with. This means you pay nothing (or only a small amount) for your glasses as your health fund will cover the majority of the cost. Click here to find out more about what your fund will cover.
Comfort
Contacts: for many users, contact lenses are very comfortable yet some people can suffer from itchy eyes or redness after prolonged use. For this reason it is great to take advantage of the free trial offers before you commit to a new life as a lens wearer.
Glasses: generally glasses are very comfortable even with constant use. Any issues with the fit would be worked out when you pick them up from the optometrist. They will check to make sure that your glasses are wide enough and sit comfortably.
Related links:
Things every contact lens wearer should know
How to choose the right glasses to suit your face shape
What your family history says about your eyesight