Contact Lenses
By Gina White;
reviewed by Dr. Arthur B. Epstein
Trying to decide whether to get contacts instead of glasses? Maybe you're sure you
want contact lenses, but you can't decide what kind would be best for you. Let's take a
look at the topics involved in your decision.
Contacts or Glasses?
"Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses." Ouch! That quotation comes from
writer Dorothy Parker, who said it back in the 1920s. Even so, probably the main reason
people choose contacts over glasses is that they don't like how glasses look, or they think
no one else likes how glasses look.
Contacts have advantages other than appearance, though. They're great for people who
play sports; who wants to miss a goal because her sweaty nose made her glasses slip down?
Also, if you have a strong prescription, glasses can be pretty heavy on your face. Another
pet peeve of glasses wearers is fogging: you're out doing something in the cold, come inside
and suddenly you can't see.
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Contact lenses are a more convenient option than glasses for
all types of athletes.
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So what are the downsides of contact lenses? Lots of people think a lens can get behind
the eye and be lost forever. That absolutely can't happen: there's no way for a contact lens
to go behind your eye. Sometimes, they go up under your lid and can be a pain to get out,
but that usually happens only if you've been rubbing your eye. The most common problem
with contacts is dirt or dust getting in your eye; the lens can
trap small particles in your eye, which can be itchy or painful.
Putting in contact lens drops
or removing the lens and rinsing it with solution
will usually solve the problem.
Other problems with contact lenses tend to be caused by the people wearing them. If you don't clean
your lenses often enough or properly,
protein can build up on them (leading to itchiness, blurriness
and lens movement) or you can get an infection. If you leave your lenses in longer than the doctor recommends,
you can deprive your eyes of oxygen, which leads to problems with the cornea.
If you share your contacts with others (a big no-no, but some kids let their friends try them on), you're risking
major infection or disease.
It is possible, though not likely, that you could have a vision problem that would make contacts an
unrealistic choice. Or, you might want to avoid them if you have a lot of problems with your eyes, such
as infections or dryness.
As for cost, that varies. Sometimes glasses are cheaper, sometimes contacts. It really depends on
which kind of each that you're considering. For example,
daily disposable contact lenses
are not likely to be less expensive than glasses. Ideally, most people should have both contacts and glasses
(which can serve as a backup in case a contact lens is lost or eyes become dry).
Cost is not the only difference among contacts; here's some info about the varieties.
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Cataracts
