Eyeglasses vs. Contact Lenses: Which to Choose?

You’ve noticed that you’re increasingly squinting just to get a clearer view while you’re walking or while you’re reading on your mobile device. You’ve always had 20/20 vision, but face it: it looks like you now have to visit your eye doctor and get an eye exam! NZ has a lot of eye doctors, in case you’re wondering, so you won’t have a hard time finding one.

And don’t worry: you aren’t alone. According to the Center for Disease Control, there are around 93 million adults who may be at risk for serious vision problems. That’s just in America! What more the rest of the world? 

Like with other medical conditions, early detection and treatment of vision impairment increase the chances of correcting the condition through either the use of prescription glasses or contact lenses. 

Both these options work by placing a lens in front of our eyes. The lens helps correct our vision if we suffer from eye problems such as myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism by bending the light rays to enable us to see better. Both are actually used and are effective in correcting vision problems.

But are there advantages to using eyeglasses over contact lenses, or vice versa? Well, if you want to know, keep on reading. The discussion below may help you decide which corrective method to go for when you visit your optometrist in NZ.

Should you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses?

One major difference between these two vision-correcting implements is how they are worn. But of course, we’re going to go deeper than that.
 

Pros of wearing eyeglasses

For people who choose to wear eyeglasses to correct vision problems, convenience is the key. After all, eyeglass are easy to wear. It’s just like wearing a cap or a shirt. You just put it on on your ears and nose and you’re ready to go. And unless it’s an old pair or has been in the middle of some mishaps, there’s no need to adjust how it fits. Presumably, it fits just right and is comfortable.
 
Since eyeglasses are perched on the bridge of your nose, no lens will directly touch your eyeball. This means added protection for your eyes from any dirt or small particles that may affect your vision. And you’ll also be protected if, say, you’re crossing near a puddle of water on the street and a car splashes you as it goes by really fast. You’re less likely to get dirty water in your eyes.

There’s also no need to regularly change eyeglasses - you’ll only need to do that in case your eye doctor in Auckland (or wherever you got checked) tells you that your grade has changed. That means glasses are friendlier for your wallet in the long run, although with NVision, glasses start out as more expensive ($199 to start, while contact lenses are cheaper at only $195).
 
One more convenient thing about eyeglasses is that there are a wide variety of styles and colors to choose from. You can even mix and match your eyeglass frames with what you are wearing for a stylish or fashionable appearance.

 

Cons of wearing eyeglasses 

Because your glasses are placed directly in front of your eyes, they may distort your vision, especially in the periphery. Wearing eyeglasses may also be bothersome for others who are engaged in activities where the eyeglass can slow their movement, such as being in construction or working in a warm area, since glasses can be obscured by steam. It can even be distracting when you are playing a sport since you either have to make sure the eyeglasses stay in place, or you have to take them off, leading to you having less than perfect vision.
 
And speaking of glasses being obscured, it’s not just the heat you have to watch out for. Eyeglass also fogs up during cold weather or when you stay in a cold environment for a long time. You’ll have to spend time removing them just to clean them off, which can be time-consuming. It will only take a few seconds but we all know time is precious, right? 
 
Other people simply do not like wearing glasses because they feel that they do not look good wearing a pair. Also, some frames turn out to be heavy, making your ears ache after extended wear.
 

Pros of wearing contact lenses  

One good thing about wearing contacts is that they move with the eyes. There will be no frame blocking your line of sight or your peripheral vision. You can also wear your contact lens even during intense physical activities. Since they are directly on your eyeballs, you don’t have to think about if they’ll fall off or not. They’ll also be easily protected if you wear goggles and are very light. You’ll barely feel them in your eyes.
 
Also, while you generally have to take off eyeglasses when sleeping to avoid them getting damaged, you don’t have to do the same with contacts. There are extended wear lenses, which you can wear day and night for a whole week. You do need to remove the lens at least once a week for cleaning, but compare that to having to remove your glasses every night!
 

Cons of wearing contact lenses

Since contacts directly touch the surface of your eye, they need special care during cleaning and storage. This is to make sure that no dust or small particles settle in the lens itself, which may scratch your eyes when you wear your contacts. There is also a risk of infection if contacts are not cleaned properly or if you handle them with dirty fingers

Another con for contacts is that if you are the type of person who does not like having a foreign object placed directly on your eye, wearing a contact lens may need getting used to. And since contacts are small, if ever one does pop out of your eye, it’s a hassle to search for! Plus, you might end up having to buy different contacts for each eye if your eyes do not have the same grade, which is definitely more expensive.  

Choose the right one for you with the help of the best optometrist in Albany.

The choice of wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct your vision problem ultimately rests your lifestyle, preferences, level of comfort, hobbies, usual physical activities, and of course, the cost. 

If you are having vision problems, we invite you to come to NVISION Eyecare for a consultation. And don’t worry: the eye exam cost in NZ is reasonably priced, starting at $65 for children and $95 for adults.

And whether you need eyeglasses in New Zealand or contact lenses in Auckland, we can provide either for you. Rest assured that because NVISION Eyecare’s owner, Ryan Mahmoud, is a top-notch optometrist in NZ, you will also only get top-notch service.+

Take that first step in addressing your vision problems. Get in touch with us and let us help you make the choice that is best for you. Visit us today at Level 1, Suite 104, Apollo Health & Wellness Centre, 119 Apollo Drive Rosedale, Auckland.