Should contact lenses be preferred to prescription glasses?

Eyeglasses and contact lenses have the same purpose since they are both designed to correct a visual impairment.
Both optical devices can correct most visual disorders such as myopia, astigmatism or presbyopia.
It is therefore possible to ask whether wearing contact lenses is a better daily option than wearing glasses.

The benefits of contact lenses over prescription glasses

If some people decide to swap their glasses for contact lenses, it is because the latter offer a number of significant advantages.
The first benefit that can be attributed to contact lenses is their extreme discretion due to their minimalism.
Small, transparent and placed directly on the surface of the eye, they do not suggest that the person has vision problems.
This makes contact lenses aesthetically pleasing to those who pay attention to their image and to women who will apply make-up more easily.
Less superficially speaking, contact lenses offer optimal visual correction of the entire field of vision.
They fully cover the cornea and provide sharpness of vision in any direction the eye is directed.
Contact lenses are also appreciated for their convenience as they are light to carry and can even be disposable.
They are also practical for sports and outdoor activities since, unlike glasses, they do not fog up or fall out.

The drawbacks of contact lenses compared to glasses

On the other hand, contact lenses also have some disadvantages compared to spectacles.
First and foremost is the need for regular and daily care for a good preservation of the visual devices.
Unlike glasses, contact lenses need to be immersed in a solution every day in order to be cleaned.
To do so, they should be placed in their case taking care not to swap the left and right lenses.
In addition, contact lenses are more fragile than spectacles and should always be handled with patience and caution.
Wearing contact lenses can also be a source of apprehension for some people, as they have to be placed directly on the eye's surface.
Removing them is also tricky as it involves putting the finger close to the eye, which can be frightening for some.
Finally, there are some situations that are not compatible with wearing contact lenses, where glasses are not an issue.
For instance, it's essential to remove your lenses before sleeping, otherwise you may find it difficult to remove them or your eye may get irritated.
Similarly, contact lenses should not be in contact with water or too much heat.

The ideal formula: owning both visual devices

As stated above, contact lenses have their benefits but also their disadvantages compared to spectacles.
The choice of wearing one or the other visual aid may depend on the situation, the lifestyle or an activity to be carried out such as sport.
The option for one equipment rather than the other can also be made according to the personality of the future wearer.
Each person will be able to decide according to their personal criteria whether they find it more beneficial to wear glasses or contact lenses.
However, sometimes the choice between the two devices is made by the ophthalmologist when there is a medical restriction to wearing lenses.
It is fair to say that, in general, the best option for a person with a visual impairment is to have both contact lenses and spectacles.
This will allow the person to switch between the two visual devices depending on the day and the situation.