Glasses vs. Contact Lenses

A broad estimate of the number of contract lens wearers worldwide is in excess of one hundred million. Clearly a lot of people like them and as improvements are constantly being made their practicality increases.  But there are disadvantages so it might not be a good idea to rush into disposing of your glasses.
The key benefit of contact lenses is that you can correct your eyesight problems without having to wear glasses. It will not be obvious to anyone else that you are wearing them so there is no effect on your appearance (however, you do have the option of changing the appearance of your eyes and there are many decorative contacts available for this purpose). You also avoid other irritating problems relating to wearing glasses:

• The simple fact that you have to wear something on your face may be something that you find irritating and uncomfortable.
• The way that glasses mist up in certain conditions or get wet in rain or snow making it difficult to see anything.
• Poor peripheral vision with glasses.
• Any activity, such as some sports, where glasses can come off or sustain damage are difficult for glasses wearers.

On the other hand glasses have the advantage that they are external to the eye so cannot do any damage to the eye and only require a quick clean occasionally.  In addition having purchased your glasses they should be useable for several years.
Contact lens are worn internally in the eye and inevitably are quite delicate leading to a number of disadvantages:

• As they are worn in the eye the chances of getting an eye infection are quite high.
• It is important to follow a regular schedule of removing and maintaining lenses to control the infection risk. You can avoid this by using disposable lenses but the cost will be greater.
• Contact lenses need replacing regularly so you are committed to ongoing purchases that will make them more expensive than glasses.
• It is important to have regular eye checkups when wearing contacts and this is another cost to bear in mind.

In conclusion contacts are superior to glasses in several ways but you must accept that they will cost more and you must look after your eyes and your lenses properly. If you cannot do the latter you will be better off sticking with glasses.

Where to buy them from
In the case of both glasses and contact lenses you should start by getting a proper eye examination and prescription. Having done that you can save a significant amount by buying online.
Contacts can be purchased from several good online retailers and you will get exactly the same lenses but it is advisable to make sure you are happy with the lenses prescribed by buying some locally in the first instance.
Purchasing spectacles online is a bit more complex and you may be better buying your first pair locally. These can subsequently be used to help define your purchase online.