Contacts vs Glasses

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Alright, here's my story

when I was in grade 10 I was blessed with the "fashion accessory" known as glasses. While I hated Hated HATED the fact I needed glasses, I so didn't want them, it turns out that I've liked my frames over the years, they compliment my face, and I'm told I "look weird" without them.

So here I am 10 years after getting glasses, and wearing them every single day of my life hence. There are a few little things that annoy me:

The need for perscription sunglasses (as wearing aviators over regular glasses doesn't really work). I've often leave the sunglasses at home, not good for bright days.

So my last pair I got transition lenses. I love them, however the drawback is still my generic sunglasses when they're tinted, or walking into an office building and wearing shades. Nothing like sitting in the doctor's office with sunglasses on, oh yeah, very chic!

Now I don't know a lot about lenses, I think putting them in, taking them out (especially after stumbling home after the bar) would be annoying and troublesome.

I was just wondering what the vast collective knowledge thought of the issue.

[Azure]

I love my contacts!

Been wearing them for about 2 months now, and I would NEVER go back to glasses. Strangely, our stories could not be more alike. I got my glasses too, about 10 years ago, and people always told me that I looked better WITH them, than without them. Now everyone tells me how good I look without my glasses.

Putting them in and taking them out is SOOO easy now...I can do it in 10 seconds per eye, 2 months in, I always get it on the first try. So that part doesn't bother me. I do have to take them out around supper time, because my eyes get extremely sore or something from wearing them, so I just put my glasses in.

Other then that, I love them.

[Burninator]

I'm sorry I couldn't read what you just wrote there.

PS I need glasses badly, but I am too lazy and I'm not keen of the idea of wearing them. But alas I fear my eyes will just get worse and worse without me having them...one of these days I'll go get some.

Anyways back to your original question. Obliviously I don't know a lot about glasses or contacts, but my dad has a pair of these glasses that came with with a sun glass attachment that just clips onto the outside of his regular glass frames. I wouldn't say it's the peak of fashion, but it seems to get the job done. But if you are prone to losing things, or a clumsy drunk that smashes things in his pockets, they are probably not the best solution. But a possible alternative to contacts.

[Eddie Bronze]

Clip on's, dude. Prescription glasses like regular and you just clip the sunglass part on when you go out in the sun, take it off when you go inside. I like mine.

[Buff]

I wear contact lenses. Aside from wearing my glasses for a bit at the beginning and ends of the days or when I'm sick, I'll never regularily wear glasses again. I find contact lenses to be so much more convenient.

It takes a while to get used to putting them in and taking them out. I don't even need a mirror to do either anymore. Even going back to my drinking days I never had a problem taking out my contact lenses or remembering to take them out.

I've always had the disposable lenses that you wear for two weeks (taking them out each night) and then you throw them away and open up a new pair. I buy a six month subscription so it isn't a hassle to keep ordering and buying them all the time.

[FireFly]

I have both and rarely wear my contacts. Not that I have issues with putting them in or whatever, but I really like my glasses. It also depends on what I'm doing that day. If I'm at the computer all day, I find that my contacts irritate me more so I just wear my glasses. If I'm going out to play in the sun, I'll wear my contacts and my cheap shades. All in all, a good investment. I bought the disposables and got a one year supply, however since I wear my glasses most of the time, It's been two years and I haven't had to refill. I'm lucky that my prescription hasn't changed, though I think it will the next time I go in.. my eyes are actually getting better with time. (Shocked the doctor.)

As for the kind that Burn is talking about, that only works depending on the frame you get, and as long as the frame is thin, you can get the shade thingy that fits right on and looks just like your regular glasses.

Anyhew, I'm glad I got the contacts for when I play sports or whatever outside in the sun, but I'm also glad I have my glasses for days when I'm at the computer 18 hours... which is mostly everyday.

[Fuzzy McGillicuddy]

Adapting to contact lenses was quite an unpleasant experience. It took me about a month to get used to them. It's not exactly natural to stick a finger in your eye to insert/remove lens.

Don't let the transition scare you. Years later, I'm quite proficient getting them in and out -- even after a few wobbly pops. Heck, I've even removed lenses after a few of those 'dome heroin beers.

I still wear frames to work - air conditioning and computer monitor irritate the hell out of my eyes when I'm wearing contacts. I prefer to wear contacts outdoors, mostly so I can wear sunglasses. I can't bring myself to get transition lenses.

[PsYcNeT]

I buy those 'spensive monthly contacts (now with support for astigmatism! yay!) but I tend to leave them in about 4-6 times longer than you should.

They work fine though!

[Superfraggle]

Had glasses since grade 2, and got contacts in grade 9...8ish years ago. As has been mentioned, there's a big of an adjustment period, with the main issue learning to get them in, but I vastly prefer contacts most of the time.

- peripheral vision is enhanced as well, where with glasses anything outside the lens is blurry

- cheaper/take-off-able sunglasses

- don't fog up when you come in from the cold

- don't bounce around playing sports, etc.

- don't get in the way when engaging in.....extracurricular activities

And if you don't like them or only like them in certain situations, you always still have your glasses. I'm all for 'em.

Apparently, eye surgery is getting cheaper and easier too. Three members of my family have gotten it and all swear by it. It would be pretty sweet to be able to avoid both glasses AND contacts.

[MonsieurFish]

i got glasses about 1 month ago. at first i thought i looked like a complete ###### in them but they kinda grew on me and considered sticking with them. i got contacts a week ago, and for the first couple days it took FOREVER to put them in and take them out and i considered goin back to glasses. but this morning i went like... 2 out of 4 attempts i do believe it was to put contacts in, and give it another week i bet it'll be simple. so altogether, i like my contacts better than glasses, mainly cause i look better, and its less hassel playing hockey or something with contact lenses in.

[PYroMaNiaC]

I have prescription sunglasses. I never lose them because they were very expensive. I keep them in my car in the glasses holder all wrapped up in one of those nice cleaning cloths they give you at the glasses place. If you don't have a glasses holder, most vehicles have a little cubby on the drivers side that works well too.

I had contacts years ago, but they are expensive to maintain with solutions, and cases and getting new disposables. I finally just said to heck with it and went completely to glasses.

[Superfraggle]

Originally Posted by PYroMaNiaC

I had contacts years ago, but they are expensive to maintain with solutions, and cases and getting new disposables. I finally just said to heck with it and went completely to glasses.

Solution isn't all that expensive.

I've never had to pay for a case...they usually come free from the optometrist or with solution. Or just don't lose them .

I guess whether or not you consider disposables expensive or not is dependent on the person. Depending on your job benefits as well, though, you might actually be covered for them.

edit: just to note that you don't HAVE to go with disposables either. I used to have "permanent" contacts (which last ~2 years). They are, admittedly, not all that much cheaper than just going with monthlys.

I'd say if money's an issue, Maritime Q-Scout, talk to your optometrist and price it out beforehand. Didn't sound like you were concerned about it in your post, though, so I assume you already have.

[Superfraggle]

Originally Posted by PYroMaNiaC

I have prescription sunglasses. I never lose them because they were very expensive. I keep them in my car in the glasses holder all wrapped up in one of those nice cleaning cloths they give you at the glasses place. If you don't have a glasses holder, most vehicles have a little cubby on the drivers side that works well too.

What you mean is you never lose them because you have chosen to be careful with them because they are expensive. The same would go for an inexpensive pair you really like or really don't want to replace. Not losing them is dependent on you, not price. I never understand that argument when people use it. If it's important to you to stop losing sunglasses, it shouldn't matter what they cost.

[FlamingLonghorn]

some guy shot lasers in my eyes about 8 yrs ago... it worked pretty well...

[The Yen Man]

I wear both contacts and glasses. I like how glasses look on me, but I also like how I look without them sometimes too. The main reason for me getting contacts was because of the sunglasses issue too. I wear contacts mainly so I can wear shades.

But the transition was definitely a pain. I tried contacts a few years back and hated it, but tried it again last year. The newer contacts are actually way less irritating on the eyes than the ones I had a few years ago.

In the long run, I want to get laser surgery if possible. That way, I don't need contacts, but I can still wear glasses with plain lens when I want to.

[blankall]

I order all my contacts online for about 200 bucks a year from discountcontactlenses.com. Much less than anyone I know w/ glasses spends on their frames. You do have to know exactly what size/perscription of lense you are so its probably best to just buy them off the doctor the first time (even if it means you have to pay the extra $100 for the eye exam). Then, if they are working for you, order online the exact same pair.

2 week disposals are a pretty good solutoin. That way it is not a huge disaster if you lose one, but the price is not out of control.

As far as actual use of contacts... very easy once you get used to it. Occasionally your eyes will get a bit dry and you might have to take them out early and give em a quick scrub.

[Bill Bumface]

I wore glasses for years, but once my eyes got bad enough I needed contacts for sports. I HATED them at first. They were always fuzzy, and they hurt my eyes after 2 hours and there is no way I could make it more than 4 hours wearing them without extreme discomfort.

Last time though I got Oasis contacts and switched cleaning systems after I described my frustrations to my eye doctor. I now use something called Clear Car which is a solution that reacts with a hunk of metal in the case. Your contacts are clean by the morning and no rubbing or scrubbing is necessary. It now takes me about 20 seconds to put my contacts in and 25 seconds to take them out. I wear them everyday and I can go for 18 hours before they get dry on me. Most of all, I can wear good sunglasses again. I hate most prescription ones as I like them to be quite curved to block the sun out of my peripheral. I also like being able to wear a crap pair for some activities and not have to worry about losing them. Oh, and when it rains, no more water spotted glasses you can't see through. And no more looking half through your lenses when doing something like playing pool.

[Flames09]

I love my contacts but only for about 6-8 hours, but I also love my glasses. What I do (and my optometrist reccomends) is wearing your contacts for only 8 hours and put on your glasses after that. I currently use Acuvue and there great, I HATE HAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTEEEEEE Freshlooks, I seriously advice no one ever purchase that crap. My sister uses the daily disposables and she LOVES them. I'm not going to lie I wear my '2 week disposables' for about 2 months, I've told my doctor this and as long as I'm getting regular check ups (twice a year) he said that's okay.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Thanks guys a few things have come up in the thread

- replacements, I don't know much about contacts but the 2 week system seems best

- sunglasses, I want to be able to wear cooler more stylish shades

- losing sunglasses, I don't feel comfortable leaving an expensive pair of sunglasses in the car. Heck I don't feel comfortable leaving a cheap arse MP3 player that my mom got a confrence for free, because I've been broken into twice (at work, and at home). When ended up happening, prior to transition lenses, I'd leave them on my desk or something when exiting the house. Also heading on a road trip 9 times out of 10 my glasses were on the kitchen counter waiting for me to bring them along.

- I'd need to pick up a second bottle of solution (travel size if possible) and keep it in my shaving kit, but still that's not a big deal.

- I do like my glasses, I just want to be able to have some more variety. I've encorporated my glasses into my personality, being a Maritimer I'm a hand talker (shocking I know) and will talk with my glasses in hand from time to time, or show fustration by whipping them off causing one of the arms to fold, and then throw them on the table causing them to spin and stop in the centre of the table. So I wouldn't want to get rid of them completely.

- When I'm older I might consider lazer eye surgery, my father had it done, for medical reasons. However he wanted it done anyway, my mother's thinking the same thing. I think I enjoy playing with my glasses to much to give them up (ironic as I was dead set against them 10 years ago).

Any other suggestions, likes/dislikes?

[Canada 02]

I've tried a number of different brands, and chose Acuvue Advance. Best contacts I've ever worn - also liked PureVision, but they were $5-10 more per box.

The best improvement in the 10+ years of wearing contacts, was when I switched to a peroxide-based cleaning solution. No rubbing to clean the lens, no detergent or enzyme to irritate your eyes. After cleaning in peroxide, they feel like a new pair of lenses. I use either AOSept or ClearCare. They are actually identical, and both from Ciba Vision, but for some reason, AOSept is occasionally a little cheaper than ClearCare