Contacts vs. Glasses: A Quick Look at the Pros & Cons

Posted Jan 31, 2018 | Tips, Tricks & Tech

Many of us will eventually need to see an eye doctor about the quality of our vision. At that point we’ll be faced with an important decision: should we wear contact lenses or glasses? Here are the pros and cons of each so that you can make the right choice for your eyes.

Pros of Wearing Contact Lenses

There are advantages to wearing contacts, including:

Clear sight over your entire field of vision. Since contacts sit on top of the pupil, you benefit from improvements to your peripheral vision, as well.
No cosmetic impact. Nobody will know that you’re wearing contact lenses.
Better visibility in bad weather. Contacts won’t fog up or get covered in raindrops.
You can wear them while playing sports or swimming. You don’t have to worry about breaking expensive frames or going without them in the water.

Cons of Wearing Contact Lenses

Here are three potential drawbacks to wearing contacts:

Contacts can be expensive. Since contacts have to be replaced at least once a month, the costs add up quickly.
You must be diligent about cleaning. Dirty contacts can cause eye infections or irritation.
They can fall out. We’ve all seen someone searching for a lost contact lens and it’s no fun.

Pros of Wearing Glasses

Eyeglasses have a lot going for them, like:

Glasses don’t raise the risk of eye infections. Since glasses don’t touch your eyes, there’s less to worry about when it comes to infection or irritation.
It’s easy to keep them clean. An occasional wipe with a lint-free cloth and glasses cleaner is usually enough to keep them clear of dirt.
They’re a fashion statement. The right pair of glasses can make a look. From cat-eye glasses to thick frames, there are countless choices for men and women.
You can grab them and go. It’s easy to travel with glasses—no need to pack a supply of daily lenses or disinfecting solution.

Cons of Wearing Glasses

There are some potential annoyances that come along with glasses:

Glasses don’t cover the entire visual field. Your peripheral vision will still be blurry.
They can get damaged. Glasses can get knocked off your face or dropped, damaging the frame or lenses.
Lens surfaces collect dust, dirt, and oil. With contacts, your main concern is bacteria on the lens. Glasses face the brunt of whatever debris is in your environment.

Wearing Contacts and Glasses: The Best of Both Worlds?

Many people choose to wear contacts one day and glasses the next. Maybe they prefer to go without glasses during the workday, but put them on when heading out to a fancy dinner. There’s no wrong or right answer when it comes to contacts versus glasses—the important thing is that you can see clearly!

When in Doubt, Ask Your Eye Doctor

Your eye doctor is a great person to talk to if you have questions about wearing contacts or glasses for the first time. They’ll even sit down with you to demonstrate how to put in contacts, remove them, and keep them clean. You can search for a local eye doctor on the Eyeconic site.

Trying contacts for the first time? We created Contact Lenses 101 to answer all your questions about lens types, contact care, and more.