Contacts vs. eyeglasses

[annibe11e]

I'm considering getting contacts because I have trouble remembering to wear my glasses. I worry that wearing them on and off could be contributing to headaches I've been getting. Lately, I've been doing pretty good at remembering them, but I find it difficult because I can see through the glasses in front of me, but blurry/distorted on the sides. I've had some trouble seeing while I drive because of this. I either need to get giant 80s glasses that cover my eyes on a chain so I don't misplace them, or buy extended wear contacts that you can leave in for 30 days. I'm not sure of the costs, but it's more than my current glasses, which is zero because, obviously, I already have them. I hate the idea of adding a new expense as I've been working so hard on cutting down, but I think it might be worth it.

Can I get some ideas regarding cost and pros/cons? I just wear regular lenses for nearsightedness.

[bjl584]

I've worn contacts for 20 years. I get the disposable kind that you use for 2 weeks then throw away and replace. You do have to take them out at night. They used to run about $125 for a year supply. I say "used to" because we recently got vision coverage at work. I can now get them for free with my insurance.

I would advise you to get the disposable kind. The permanent kind require a lot of cleaning and maintenance, and there is no real cost advantage.

I'd also advise you to keep a pair of glasses for back up. They are also nice to have to give your eyes a break so to speak. Take out the contacts on weekends or in the evenings and just wear the glasses around the house.

Contacts are fairly delicate, so be careful rubbing your eyes with them in. They can get dislodged in your eye, which can be uncomfortable. There is also the risk of them falling out and blowing away in the wind or getting a tear in them. For that reason, I keep a back up pair in my car and at my desk at work.

[ua_guy]

I've worn contacts for 10 years and it's almost a hassle-free experience. Contact technology has really improved. Talk to your eye doc about which kind would suit you best. There are so many kinds these days.

Mine are disposable and have a 30-day life. I put them in when I get up, and I take them out before I go to bed. It's a ritual just like brushing my teeth or putting on deoderant.

With anything, there's an adjustment period. Honestly? They feel funny when you first wear them, but like anything else, if you stick with it, the annoyance or feeling that there's something on your eye goes away.

I think I'm into it for about $125/year as well. My issue was that I was 20 years old, and I kept forgetting, leaving, or destroying my glasses because I'd take them off for sports practice. The freedom of NOT having those stupid things on my face was and is still worth every penny.

[BuckyBadger]

I was *this* close to shelling out for Lasik because I was so tired of my glasses AND my contacts, but I've been wearing daily disposable lenses for the past 2 years and they been, literally, life changing.

Part of the problem with my contacts (I used to wear 2-month and then 2-week disposables) is that I wear them too long. Most people do. I mean, technically you're supposed to wear them no more than 12 hours, and that's pushing it. That means that if I put them in at 7 in the morning, they're not supposed to be worn past dinner time! So what happens? I wear them anyway, and they just start to fell dry and uncomfortable as the night wears on. Then as they get longer in their life cycle, they feel not-so-great every morning when I put them in until I get to put in a new pair, which feel GREAT for a few days.

The daily disposable feel fresh every morning because they're brand new, and if they start to feel bad, or I'm out at dinner and wanting to go to a movie and they've already been in for 15 hours and I want to take them out, I can just pop them out and toss them and put on the glasses that I keep in mu purse. There's no more wearing them past the time of comfort because I can't get home and take them out and put them in the solution. And it feels SO good in the morning to put a new set on!

They're more expensive than my old contacts, but it's actually not that bad if you consider the contact solution that I don't have to buy any more. That stuff was expensive - like $10-$12 a bottle, and I easily went through two bottles a month. My daily disposable contacts cost a bit under $1 a day, but I'm also saving probably $200-$250 on contact solution per year.

As far as extended wear contacts that you leave in and sleep in and such I just don't trust them and wouldn't ever use them. My grandmother lost an eye in a traumatic accident years ago, and at the fake eye place, practically everyone else there was there because they had improperly used contacts and lost an eye. Now, I'm sure technology has changed, but I just don't trust leaving contacts in and sleeping in them.

So anyway, I LOVE daily disposable contacts and now I don't really care about Lasik any more, which is good, because I'm kind of terrified of it anyway!

My $0.02.

[GrimJack]

I am the lazy one; I wear my 30 day disposable for about 3-5 days, take them out, clean them overnight and maybe longer. Since I am on furlough (because of the sequester not the shutdown) I sometimes go days without putting my contacts back in. There is a nation-wide company that sells glasses 2 pair for the price of one. What they do is sell you the frames and that price includes the exam and 'normal' vision lenses and each upgrade to the lens is additional cost. I am going back as soon as I get back to Seattle so I will have glasses for the 'downtime'. I know that I am supposed to take the contacts out each night but I also know that it does not damage the eyes to leave them in longer. For the life of me I can't remember the name of the cheap glasses place.

[kork13]

I started wearing contacts when I was 16 (glasses at 11), and I absolutely love them, or at least compared to wearing my glasses 24/7. Glasses get in the way, especially if you have an active/athletic lifestyle. So I've worn contacts for 11 years now, and although I'm hoping/planning to get corrective laser surgery in the next year or so (fingers crossed), I would continue wearing contacts (over glasses) indefinitely.

The fact that I can see normally (without the weight or obstruction of a pair of glasses) is invaluable to me. With that said, it costs me about $200/yr plus another $40/yr (-ish) for contact solution. I use 2-week disposable lenses, though I'll admit I can (and occasionally do) wear a pair for 3 weeks or occasionally a bit longer, simply because they're still comfortable. However, when I'm just bumming around the house in the evening or on a lazy weekend, I'll often just wear my glasses... So in general, I just replace them whenever they are no longer comfortable to wear throughout the day. It does take some getting used to... between teaching myself not to poke myself in the eye every time I put them in or take them out, learning when they're no longer comfortable and need to be taken out for the day or replaced entirely, and also just getting into the habit of putting them in & taking them out daily. But you get used to it.

I would NOT recommend the 30-day extended wear contacts that you leave in and never take out. It's not good for your eyes, because they need fresh air and fresh tears to keep stay healthy. Contacts serve as a barrier to oxygen and tears for the front of your eyes, which is why most people's eyes feel dry & scratchy after a full day of wearing contacts. I asked my optometrist about the extended-wear contacts, and he almost flipped. He absolutely forbid me from wearing them, and explained all of the above to me as to why not.

**I will give the proviso that I have to be finicky about my eyes... I fly for the military, so good vision is a priority... I use more-expensive contacts that allow better oxygen pass-through (which adds ~$50/yr in cost), and my doctors are more picky about all of that as well.

[kork13]

I prefer sunglasses though I'd welcome the convenience of contacts

A bit spammy.......... but chapman brings up a notable point -- SUNGLASSES! My eyes are fairly sensitive to sunlight (my baby blue's are a blessing & a curse), so I almost require sunglasses outside, even on some cloudy days. With contacts, there's no need for me to carry around an expensive set of prescription sunglasses, I can just grab and wear any sunglasses that happen to be handy. This is a huge benefit IMO.

Thinking more about it, not wearing glasses has truly been a life-changer for me. I mostly run, cycle, & swim for my exercise -- all of these are made more difficult (or at least frustrating) when you have to wear glasses. I also SCUBA dive & snowboard, and without contacts, I'd have to special-order a set of prescription goggles for each of these activities. In more general terms, I can be in close quarters or running about for any reason & not have to worry about taking off, dropping, or otherwise damaging my glasses.

Another benefit: if you lose one of your contact lenses (which happens... I've accidentally "blinked out" multiple contacts, which can be nearly impossible to find), they're relatively cheap and easy to replace -- contact lenses cost between $1-2 each. If you break or lose your eyeglasses (who hasn't?), that'll likely run you at least $100.

[annibe11e]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! The amounts were very helpful as well.

[FLA]

if your glasses are blurry at the sides, I hope you get an exam to see if you need a new prescription.

If you go with glasses by mail for a back up pair, Zenni is awesome.

don't forget to use your FSA for contacts and supplies

I'm envious over here, I miss contacts. I have this crazy prescription after having a detached retina, the lenses cost $1800 without the cost of the frame. I'm at the point of needing new ones but the cost is just so high