Contacts vs. Glasses

Should I wear glasses or contacts: 4 things to consider. Not sure whether contacts or glasses are best for you?

Keep these four comparison points in mind.

 The question of wearing contact lenses versus glasses often has a more situational answer than an absolute one. For many of us who have to wear corrective lenses, the ideal would be to have both contacts and glasses. Walmart’s Vision Center offers a wide variety of both at great prices, so for starters, it’s worth checking to see if that solution makes sense for you and your budget. If going with one or the other is the best decision for you right now, the charts below can help you compare the benefits of contacts lenses and glasses in a number of important ways.

Cost of contacts vs. glasses

	Contacts	Glasses
Cost	The more often you have to discard lenses, the more they will cost. There’s also a cost associated with lens cleaner and solution (unless you wear daily disposables, which tend to be more expensive).	Glasses tend to cost less than contacts over time. But if you wear glasses you won’t be able to wear fashion (non-prescription) sunglasses; you’ll need to have tinted prescription lenses put into sunglasses frames or wear glasses with photochromic lenses that darken when exposed to UV light.
Replacement frequency	How often you need to replace contact lenses will depend on the type you wear. Traditional lenses: every 6 months or more. Frequent replacement lenses: monthly or quarterly. Disposable lenses: every two weeks or less. Daily disposable lenses: every day.	If you handle frames with care, they can last you many years. You can usually just replace the lenses and keep the frames if your vision prescription changes, which reduces cost.

Care & ease of use

	Contacts	Glasses
Care	Clean daily, unless you wear daily disposable lenses.	Clean lenses as needed with soap and warm water or special lens cleaner.
Ease of use	Can, at first, be difficult to put in and remove since we aren’t used to touching our eyes; usually improves with practice.	Easy to put on and take off. Push straight back when putting on and pull straight forward when removing. To keep the frames in good shape, always hold both sides.
Field of vision	Contacts are a great choice for sports and in most weather conditions. In very windy conditions it’s a good idea to wear goggles or sunglasses to help keep contacts from drying out.	Glasses can be damaged or broken during sports, especially contact sports. If you’re very active, consider wearing high impact-resistant safety and sports glasses. They can also be difficult to wear in rainy conditions and can fog up in cold weather.
If you’re an athlete	Contacts are a great choice for sports and in most weather conditions. In very windy conditions it’s a good idea to wear goggles or sunglasses to help keep contacts from drying out.	Glasses can be damaged or broken during sports, especially contact sports. If you’re very active, consider wearing high impact-resistant safety and sports glasses. They can also be difficult to wear in rainy conditions and can fog up in cold weather.

Comfort & health

	Contacts	Glasses
General comfort	Not all contact lenses will fit your eyes the same. To find the best, most comfortable fit, schedule an eye exam and contact lens fitting at your local Walmart Vision Center.	Glasses can cause a pinching feeling on the nose (especially frames with nose pads) and ears. Remove frames for a few minutes a couple of times a day to give yourself a break. The heavier the frames, the more likely you’ll feel them on your face.
Nighttime comfort	Extended wear contacts are designed so that you can sleep with them in. But you could still wake to a gritty, dry feeling in your eyes. Daily wear contacts must be removed nightly.	Sleeping with glasses on will not harm your eyes but could damage the frames if you roll on to your side.
Eye health	Contacts reduce the amount of oxygen that reaches the eye, which can contribute to dry eye. Also, touching the eyes can increase risk of irritation and infection, so always use clean hands. It’s not recommended to wear contacts while you have an eye infection.	Glasses allow enough oxygen to reach the eye. But lens reflections can contribute to eye strain. To help reduce that, have anti-reflective coating added to lenses.
If you frequently look at a screen	Wearing contacts while looking at a digital screen for long periods of time can contribute to computer eye strain.	If you work at a computer often, you can have special computer glasses made, which can help reduce eye strain. Choose normal eyeglass frames and have them fitted with lenses designed for computer work.

Style & looks

	Contacts	Glasses
Style	You won’t have to think about whether your frames suit the occasion.	Beyond just being functional, glasses can be an extension of your personal style. Walmart’s Vision Center offers a large range of styles at great prices, so you can have a pair for every mood or occasion.
Looks	Allow your whole face to be seen without any distractions. Colored contact lenses and eye enhancing lenses enable you to change how your eyes look while correcting your vision.	Thin and rimless frames create a barely-there look while correcting your vision. Frame color and lens tint can be used to bring out eye color.

Still not sure whether contacts or glasses are best for you? Schedule an eye exam with a vision care professional at your local Walmart Vision Center to get expert advice. And when you buy glasses from Walmart, remember: as long as you own your glasses you can bring them in for complimentary cleaning, inspection of the lens surfaces and help with maintaining and repairing the frames.