Glasses or contact lenses?

If you have a visual impairment, you need to ensure that your vision is sharp and that the progression of the condition is halted. Many people with a visual impairment opt for corrective lenses or spectacles. Glasses or lenses - which to choose? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both? You will find the answers to these questions in this blog post.

Lenses or glasses - which to choose?

In this article, you will learn about the differences between them, as well as the advantages and disadvantages, which we hope will make it easier for you to make the right choice.

Advantages of contact lenses

Above all, it is worth highlighting the fact that the lenses adapt very well to the curvature of the eye, providing a freer and wider field of vision.

In addition, the lenses do not interfere with sports or make-up, and weather conditions do not affect the quality of vision with them, so they provide a much more comfortable daily life. Patients can choose from daily, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual lenses. Wearing contact lenses is extremely comfortable because, when properly fitted, the patient does not feel them when wearing them - they do not strain the eyes. For this reason, so many patients choose to purchase contact lenses because they feel completely comfortable in contact lenses and, when wearing them, they do not feel them on their eyes because the lens moulds to the shape of the eye. Lenses instead of spectacles? Very many patients opt for this type of solution. Importantly, with lenses, when the visual defect improves or worsens, you only need to buy a pack of lenses with a different power.

Are contact lenses harmful?

Wśród wad tego rozwiązania pojawia się adaptacja do funkcjonowania wewnątrz oka z ciałem obcym. Wielu ludzi ma problemy z zakładaniem soczewek kontaktowych, a także codziennym funkcjonowaniem w nich. Jednak dzięki ćwiczeniom zakładając i zdejmując je, można dojść do wprawy, a uczucie ciała obcego w oku zaniknie, bo dobrze dobrana soczewka przesuwa się wraz z ruchami gałki ocznej.

However, few people are aware that lenses can reduce the amount of oxygen entering the eye and can therefore cause the occurrence of dry eye disease, which requires regular eye drops. Importantly, there are contraindications to wearing the lenses - not every patient can wear them, e.g. patients with glaucoma or eye inflammation.

Jednak soczewki nie są szkodliwe dla zdrowia ani widzenia, jeśli są w prawidłowy sposób pielęgnowane oraz użytkowane. Nosząc contact lenses, należy pamiętać o ich prawidłowej pielęgnacji. Należy także stosować się do zaleceń podanych na ulotce i postępować zgodnie z instrukcją używania. Wyjątkiem są soczewki jednorazowe, które nie wymagają pielęgnacji. Jak sama nazwa wskazuje, po jednorazowym użyciu, nadają się do wyrzucenia. Jakie są jeszcze wady soczewek? Główną wadą jest konieczność stałego uzupełniania ich zapasów. Należy także kontrolować ich termin ważności, a także doliczyć stały koszt za płyn pielęgnacyjny. Noszenie soczewek wiąże się również z koniecznością przestrzegania higieny podczas ich zakładania i przed zdejmowaniem soczewek, dlatego że przylegają bezpośrednio do rogówki.

Corrective eyewear - the benefits of eyewear

By wearing corrective spectacles, we definitely reduce the risk of eye irritation or infections because we touch our eyes less often.

It is also worth mentioning that wearing glasses protects the eyes from external factors such as dust, dirt and airborne pollutants. Glasses do not distort images, correct the shape of the face, correct defects, improve the quality of vision, and for many people are an integral part of their image. Choosing eyeglasses is not an easy, but pleasant task - there is a multitude of shapes and colours of frames available on the market, so everyone can easily match glasses to their face shape. Importantly - eyeglass frames are a one-off, which is a definite advantage over lenses.

Disadvantages of wearing corrective spectacles

What are the disadvantages of spectacles? Due to the distance the contact lenses are from the eyes, there can be a peripheral vision, which causes distortion of the image. Another disadvantage of wearing spectacles is that they are not immune to rain and snow, as well as temperature differences causing, for example, contact lenses to evaporate. With spectacles, care must also be taken, e.g. during physical activity, as they can fall off. This is the main reason why athletes prefer to wear contact lenses instead of glasses. This is because they do not have to worry about them getting damaged during sports activities. Spectacle frames and lenses cost from several hundred to several thousand zlotys. Nevertheless, even such expensive models are very often purchased by people who, due to their visual impairment, struggle with blurred vision without their assistance, especially patients with a severe visual impairment. The choice of contact lenses and frames depends on our visual impairment, and for a professional examination, we should visit an ophthalmologist.

Corrective lenses for vision correction also often get in the way during sports or if you work physically, there is a likelihood that they will get damaged and need to be repaired, and therefore without an extra pair, you lose the comfort of your vision, and usually people with visual impairment cannot imagine a day without glasses or without wearing lenses. With glasses and contact lenses, their vision enables them to function properly. In the case of spectacles that break, the patient has to go to the optician to buy a new set. Unfortunately, he or she also has to reckon with a waiting time of several days for their order to be fulfilled.

Which you decide on - lenses or corrective spectacles - is a very individual matter. Both solutions have certain disadvantages, but also plenty of advantages which make everyday life easier. Both solutions are effective in improving the quality and sharpness of your vision, but which solution you feel more comfortable in is a matter of personal preference. The solution should also correlate with your lifestyle, which is something to bear in mind when making your decision.