Glasses vs Contacts: Which Lens is Right for You?

Contacts Vs Glasses Which Lens is right for you? An Important Guide

Noticing that text messages are getting hard for you to read? Having to squint to make out exits and street signs? Feeling lost driving at night? If your answer to any of those questions was yes, then it’s probably time for corrective lenses. But making the choice between glasses and contacts isn’t always easy, at least not when you don’t have all the facts.

To help you get one step closer to clear vision, our team at Shreveport Eye Specialists is here to fill in the gaps. In this article, you’ll find all the information you need to make the most educated decision for your eyes.

What They Have in Common

When it comes to improving your vision, both eyeglasses and contact lenses can get the job done. Nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism—no matter which of these describes your eyes, the treatment is the same with either of these solutions.

Contacts vs Glasses Pro’s and Con’s

How They Are Different: Pros of Contacts

Aesthetics. The top reason people choose contact lenses is aesthetic. They don’t like the way they look in glasses, or they simply prefer not to have to look differently. If that’s you, contacts may be the choice for you.

Object permanence. Unlike glasses, contacts don’t have to be kept up with! You won’t find them at the bottom of your bag with keys, phones, or other items prone to get lost—because when used correctly, they stay in place.

Peripheral vision. Because contact lenses cover your eye, they allow for complete peripheral vision. Glasses, on the other hand, require you to turn your head to see side-to-side. For this reason, many say contacts offer a more natural visual experience.

Outdoor feasibility. Contacts function just as well when it rains, never getting wet or foggy. They also won’t fall off of your face, which is why people who routinely do sports or outdoor activities like them best.

Laser surgery alternative (for some). If you are not a candidate for laser surgery but are experiencing vision loss and/or related symptoms, Ortho-K contacts might be an alternative for you. This type of contact lens has been found to provide significant improvements in the vision for those seeking other solutions.

Color variations. Specialty contacts can change the appearance of your eyes, both that of the pupil and the overall shade. People who are looking for a new look or just to change things up on occasion enjoy this unique feature of contact lenses.

Flexible use. Contact lenses come in an array of options according to popular patient preferences, down to when and how long they must be worn. For people who don’t like wearing contacts 24/7, daily, disposable lenses are a great option. For others who simply don’t want to remove their lenses regularly, extended-wear options exist.

How They Are Different: Pros of Glasses

• Removability. If you don’t have vision problems constantly—meaning yours are highly manageable or only apparent when reading, driving, etc.—then glasses may be right for you. Whereas contacts require time and concentration to take on and off, glasses can be removed and put on with ease.
• Cleanliness. People who are schedule- and routine-oriented typically prefer contacts; they have no problem removing their contacts on-time, taking off their makeup before bed, and setting aside time to clean their contacts and cases. But if you are not as organized or have trouble remembering tasks, then glasses are a much better solution for you. With glasses, the only thing you have to clean are the lenses, and dirty lenses are pretty hard to miss.
• Touch-free process. A lot of people don’t like touching their eyes—simple as that. If the idea of having to feel around in your eye to place, adjust, or remove your contacts makes you squeamish, don’t take the chance. Stick to the OGs—you can’t go wrong!
• Minimal irritation. If you deal with dry eyes or problems related to the cornea, glasses are a much wiser choice. As opposed to contact lenses, which may worsen these problems, glasses are purely external, so they’ll never irritate your eyes. The most they’ll do is cause some temporary discomfort for your nose and eyes.

Similarly, if you are often exposed to fumes or particles that could stick to or be absorbed by contacts, glasses are the way to go.

• Aesthetics. Yep, this one applies here too! While some people hate the way eyeglasses affect their looks, others find that glasses enhance their appearance or make just the right fashion statement. And with so many frames on the market, you can always find one to fit your style.
• Less maintenance and clutter. Glasses are a great choice for people who want to keep their “essentials” to a minimum. Unlike contacts, they don’t require special drops and solutions, nor do they need much care.

Eyeglass Options

At Shreveport Eye Specialists, we care about how your eyewear looks, feels, and functions. Besides complimenting your looks, we believe glasses should meet your needs—which is why we offer the best eyeglass selection in Shreveport/Bossier, with options for kids, teens, adults, and now, even babies!

We tell all our patients, for a great pair of glasses, you need two things: great lenses and a great frame.

Eyeglass lenses

Lens quality can be the difference between “okay” and “phenomenal” vision.  We personalize lenses to match the specific needs of each patient using optics technology from ZEISS. Some of our most popular lens options are:

• Individual 2 Progressive: A custom digital-cut option with up to a 50% larger intermediate and reading zone, this lens is the most versatile, providing clear vision in every kind of light.

• DriveSafe: Perfect if you have trouble driving at night and available for single or progressive vision, this lens offers a better vision in low light conditions and clearer viewing of the dashboard, rear-view and side mirrors, and the road ahead.

• DuraVision Platinum Anti-Reflective (AR): This lens has better anti-reflective properties than conventional AR-coated lenses. Tough enough for everyday wear and tear, easy to keep clean, and complete with an anti-static barrier, it’s the preferred lens of many.

Other options include aspheric lenses, bifocals, and multifocal lenses. We recommend aspheric lenses for patients with strong prescriptions as they lessen farsighted eye magnification and nearsighted eye minification.

*Durability, weight, and UV protection level are all factors that determine lens quality. Anti-reflective coating, scratch-resistant coating, anti-fog and UV lens treatments can be applied to any of our lenses per request. These treatments not only enhance vision but also the appearance and lifespan of glasses, as well as the health of your eyes. Free UV and scratch-resistant coating on prescription eyewear is offered to all our patients.

Eyeglass Frames

No matter your style (simple and modest, bold and daring, or somewhere in between), our extensive selection of frames has something for you! Some of my favorites are:

• Mattisse: Colorful, unique, and hand-painted, this frame will make you stand out from the crowd in a classy, artistic way.

• Charmant: This completely rimless titanium frame is lightweight and lovely, a subtle option to match any style.

• Flexon: Lighter and longer-lasting than the conventional metal frame, this memory-metal titanium option is comfortable, flexible, and fine-tuned for a custom fit.

Other brands include Gucci, Chloe, Ysl, Maui Jim, Vera Wang, Vera Bradley, Caroline Herrera, Scott Harris, Kate Spade, Stetson, and many, many more!

If you’ve decided that eyeglasses are right for you, don’t wait! Contact one of our specialists. Starting at just $99, our packages can’t be beaten, complete with one-year warranties for every pair you purchase.

Contact Lens Options

As technology has advanced, giving more people the chance to enjoy the freedom of contact lenses, so too have the types of contact lenses available. Our patients have access to a wide variety of the most effective contact lenses on the market today. These include:

• Soft lenses that are worn once and then discarded

• Soft lenses that are designed to be cleaned daily for 14 or 30 days of use

• Hard, gas-permeable lenses that allow oxygen to reach the eye and therefore last longer

• Monovision lenses allowing near vision in one eye and far vision in the other

• Bifocal lenses allowing for both short- and long-distance vision

• Toric lenses that correct for astigmatism

• Ortho-K lenses that reshape the cornea while being worn

As you can see, there is no shortage of ways to make contacts or glasses work for you. Now that you have all the information, the only question is: Which will you choose? Book an appointment with our office now, and get help answering that question and any other related to your eye health!

It’s all about Contacts vs Glasses Guide!