Contacts vs. Glasses: Which Is Best for You?

If you’re nearsighted or farsighted, you’ve probably considered whether you should use eyeglasses or contacts to correct your vision.

So, when it comes to contacts vs. glasses, is one better than the other?

Both options come with pros and cons. Eyeglasses are easy to use and don’t require any special care or cleaning, while contacts offer advantages such as ease of movement when participating in sports or other activities and offer better peripheral vision.

Contacts require special cleaning and care, while eyeglasses may be a hindrance during certain activities.

How do you decide what’s right for you?

Optometrist Wes Immler, OD, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of glasses and contacts and how to choose.

How to decide between contacts and glasses?

Whether you go with contacts or glasses, it’s up to you and factors like your lifestyle, personal style and preference, says Dr. Immler.

When first developed, contact lenses were only available as hard lenses. Today’s hard lenses, called gas permeable, are much improved. They can be worn for up to a year without needing to be replaced as long as they’re properly cared for.

“Typically, the people who choose hard lenses have eye conditions that don’t allow them to wear a soft lens,” clarifies Dr. Immler. “They might have an irregularly shaped eye or a condition called keratoconus, which causes thinning of the cornea.”

The vast majority of Dr. Immler’s patients (around 90% to 95%) choose soft lenses. Soft contact lenses are typically thinner, lighter and more comfortable than hard lenses. Lens manufacturers may use a silicone hydrogel material that allows more oxygen to reach the eye. Soft contact lenses come in three varieties:

• Monthly disposables: Remove the lenses and store them in a disinfectant solution overnight. Repeat for 30 days and then discard.
• Bi-weekly disposables: Same as monthly but throw them away after two weeks.
• Daily disposables: Pop in a fresh pair of lenses each day.

Eyeglasses have been around for centuries, evolving over time to use more modern designs and materials. When it comes to eyeglasses, there are two different types:

• Single-vision lenses: The lenses used in single-vision glasses correct vision for a single distance and can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.
• Multifocal lenses: Multifocal lenses are available in different types that can address vision issues at multiple different distances. A few types include bifocals and progressive addition lenses (PALs), which correct for distance and help with reading.

Plastic or polycarbonate materials are typically used to make most eyeglass lenses. They tend to be lightweight and can come with certain coatings to help reduce glare and reflections.

“Glasses lenses are made differently to correct different vision issues. Lenses are made in a concave shape to correct myopia or nearsightedness,” explains Dr. Immler. “They’re made in a convex shape to correct hyperopia or farsightedness. Bifocal lenses are made to have one power at the top to help with distance vision and a different, more magnified, power at the bottom to help with reading.”

Pros of contacts

Thinking about trying contacts? Dr. Immler outlines the following benefits:

• They provide better peripheral vision. “An advantage of contacts is that they sit right on the eye and move with it,” he says. For that reason, contacts are a great choice for people who lead active lifestyles such as athletes who don’t want to worry about flying objects hitting their glasses and causing an eye injury, and swimmers can see in the pool with regular goggles.
• They’re difficult to damage. “Another benefit of contacts over glasses is that you won’t lose track of them or damage them by sitting or stepping on them,” he adds.
• There are different options based on your needs. You can decide which type of contact lenses work best for you. Dr. Immler says that daily disposables may be a good option. “The advantage of a fresh pair daily is the reduced likelihood of dryness, allergies and infections.”
• They aren’t obvious on your face. It’s hard to tell if you’re wearing contact lenses, so they can be a good option for those who want to have a natural appearance or highlight their makeup.

Cons of contacts

But there are some downsides to wearing contacts. Here are a few things to consider:

• There’s a chance of infection. “Anytime you put something on or near your eye, you’re introducing risk,” says Dr. Immler. “The biggest risk is an eye infection.” He adds that infection risks are lowest with daily disposable lenses because you use a fresh pair every day. For other lens types, follow good hygiene practices.
• They require cleaning. Having to clean and store your contacts might not be ideal for you and your lifestyle. You need to clean them every night with contact solution and store them in a case, which can be a lot to keep track of.
• They require you to touch your eye. For some people, it can take a while to get used to placing and removing your contact lenses from your eyeballs (yes, you have to touch your eyeball!).
• They may blur your vision at times. If you have astigmatism, your lenses are typically designed to not move around a lot, but in some cases your vision may become blurry if your lenses rotate.
• They can cause dryness and irritation. Some people may experience eye dryness and irritation while wearing contacts.

Pros of glasses

When it comes to glasses there are a lot of benefits such as:

• They’re easy to use. Just place them on your face and you’re good to go. They also don’t need much care — you can use a microfiber cloth to wipe away any dust or smudges.
• They come in many styles and colors. You can find a pair that highlights your personality and personal style.
• They don’t need to be replaced often. Unless your prescription changes each year, there’s no need to replace your eyeglasses.
• They don’t increase your risk of eye infections. Glasses don’t touch your eyes, so they don’t pose any increased risk of an eye infection.

Cons of glasses

You may want to consider the following disadvantages of wearing glasses:

• They may distort your vision. If you have astigmatism or a strong prescription, your field of vision with glasses may be distorted.
• They may add weight to your face. You may also not like how glasses feel on your face — the weight of your frames and lenses can cause pressure on the bridge of your nose and your ears.
• They can become foggy or dirty in certain conditions. The lenses in your glasses can also become foggy or dirty in certain conditions such as outside in the rain or in a dirty or dusty environment.
• They may not be good for sports or certain activities. Glasses can fall off your face or get broken more easily during some activities.

Can you wear both glasses and contacts?

Yes. Many people have a pair of eyeglasses and contact lenses that they can rotate between. This can come in handy depending on your lifestyle.

For example, you may prefer to wear your eyeglasses during the day while you’re at work. But then, you may opt to switch to your contacts when you work out or hang out with friends.

“Many people wear both contacts and glasses. They like the flexibility of having both options depending on the activity they’re doing,” notes Dr. Immler. “It’s also always a good idea to have a backup pair of glasses even if you mostly wear contacts. This way, you can wear your glasses if you happen to get an eye infection or can’t wear your contacts for some reason. It’s also good to give your eyes a break from contacts occasionally, especially at the end of the day.”

Are contact prescriptions the same as glasses?

No. Your prescription for contacts and glasses is different because your contacts sit directly on your eye. So, during an eye exam, your optometrist will take different measurements for your eyeglasses and your contacts.

For example, your contact prescription includes additional information/measurements such as:

• Base curve (BC): The curvature of your contacts, which help your lenses fit comfortably on your eye.
• Diameter (Dia): This is the width of your contact lens.

Your contact prescription will also include the power of vision correction, the brand and type of lenses, as well as an expiration date.

“When you purchase contacts, your optometrist will match your eye’s shape and curvature to the lens,” says Dr. Immler. “This allows tears to get under the lens to provide the eye nutrients and oxygen.”

Your optometrist will also train you on how to apply and care for your lenses.

Bottom line?

Are contacts better than glasses? There’s not one right answer. Contact lenses and eyeglasses are both good options for those who need help correcting their vision.

When it comes to costs, the amount you spend on either option can depend on how often you need to replace your contacts or glasses and other factors like features, materials, coatings and if you have more complex vision issues.

But the choice of whether you should go with contacts over eyeglasses (or wear both) is up to you and what makes the most sense for your lifestyle.

“The best thing to do to help decide whether glasses or contacts are best for you is to have a comprehensive eye exam,” advises Dr. Immler. “Your eye doctor can then assess your vision and eye health and discuss your individual needs. We can lay out which glasses and contact lens options might work best for you, but ultimately, the final decision is up to you.”