Eye Wear

Eye wear

What are the differences between glasses and contact lenses?

There are many different benefits that glasses and contact lenses offer. Your optician will help you choose the most appropriate vision correction option for you by taking into consideration your eyesight and your lifestyle needs. Some people may choose to have both contact lenses and glasses so that they can select the option that best suits them, depending upon what activity they are doing.

• Field of vision

One major difference between the two is the field of vision they provide. Due to the restriction of the frame, and the distance that it sits from the eyes, glasses provide a smaller field of peripheral (side) vision than contact lenses. This is especially useful when playing sports and driving where a wide peripheral field of vision helps you see as much as possible around you, helping with your spatial awareness. Contact lenses are often felt to provide a more natural vision as they do not change the size of the objects being viewed where as glasses magnify or minify the image.

• Weight and comfort

Because glasses rest on your face and ears, their added weight can sometimes cause discomfort and can be a distraction during sports. Glasses also need to be tightened and adjusted frequently to ensure they don’t slide down your face. They may fog up with changes in temperature. These problems are all eliminated with contact lenses.

• Fashion

Designer glasses may make for a fashionable accessory that can enhance the way someone appears, or can even provide a more authoritative look. However some people feel that glasses act as a barrier and make them feel less confident as well as detracting from their natural appearance.

• Sunglasses and protective eyewear

If you wear glasses, you may also decide to purchase prescription sunglasses which unlike more fashionable non-prescription alternatives, do not tend to provide wrap around protection. However wearing contact lenses allows you that option of choosing from a wider range of fashionable, wrap around, non-prescription sunglasses.

If you need protective eyewear then safety eyewear can be worn easily with contact lenses which otherwise requires a separate pair of prescription safety glasses to be purchased.

How do I get used to wearing contact lenses after wearing glasses for so long?

Even if you have worn glasses for a long time you will find you will get used to wearing soft contact lenses very quickly. People are often able to keep their soft lenses in for several hours on their first day and get used to them within the first few wears. How quickly you get used to your new lenses will depend on the sensitivity of your eyes and the type of lenses you are wearing. Soft contact lenses are flexible and shape to your eye and this makes them easier to get used to than rigid contact lenses.

What types of contact lenses are there?

Most contact lenses available today are soft lenses. The type that is most appropriate for your vision correction needs and lifestyle will be discussed at your appointment. Broadly speaking the majority of soft contact lenses are either daily or reusable.

Daily disposable contact lenses

Daily disposable contact lenses are intended for single use only, after which you dispose of them. This enables you to benefit from the comfort, convenience and hygiene of fresh new lenses every day. Like reusable disposable contact lenses, these are also now available in exceptionally high oxygen materials such as 1•DAY ACUVUE^® TruEye^®.

Reusable disposable contact lenses

Reusable lenses are reused the following day for between one week and one month. The number of weeks will depend on the product you choose to wear. Unless specifically prescribed for sleeping in at night, they should be removed and cleaned every night. Reusable contact lenses provide exceptional long-lasting comfort and are available in materials that deliver very high oxygen levels to the eye which will keep them looking white and enable you to wear them for longer hours in the day.

As there are a variety of different types of soft contact lenses available, you will need to book an appointment with an optician who will assess your suitability to wear contact lenses and allow you to experience the comfort of contact lenses while finding the type of lens most appropriate for you.