Vision correction is often a case of the classic “grass is always greener” situation. If you have long relied on your favorite pair of eyeglasses, odds are good that there will be a time – probably during rainy or snowy weather – in which contact lenses seem like a perfect stress-free option. If you are predominantly a contact lens wearer, there will be times where watery eyes make you wish you had a pair of sassy glasses to pop onto your face. Given that many vision insurance plans often ask people to choose between being covered for glasses or contacts each year, many people are often torn between which vision approach is right for them.

Pros to glasses
In most cases, people with less than 20-20 vision begin their journey into vision correction with eyeglasses. Given the proliferation of designer brands now on the market, people can not only see clearer, they do so with a sense of keen style. Glasses exude a sense of intelligence and mystery that has grown to become so popular that many people with perfect vision go out of their way to purchase glasses with prescription-free lenses. Poet Dorothy Parker’s old adage, “Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses,” has clearly gone out the window.

While most people who need corrective vision can wear either glasses or contact lenses, there are some instances in which glasses are not only the best option, they are the only option. People who frequently experience eye infections or dry eye are not the best candidates for contact lenses. Those who work in environments full of dust or are incapable of following proper contact lens care are best sticking with their trusty frames. Even if you don’t think glasses are right for you, a pair of clear eyes behind frames are better and healthier than a pair of red, watery eyes wearing contacts.

Pros to contact lenses
There are stylistic and practical benefits to forgoing eyeglasses in favor of contact lenses. If you have a particularly active lifestyle, for instance, contact lenses are often the streamlined approach to vision correction you will need. People who play sports find that glasses are too easily jostled during activity. Not only is this highly annoying, it is also a potential safety risk – lack of secure vision can not only leave you without a clear view of action, but also open the door for potential physical contact that could break your glasses and injure your face.

Since contact lenses have come a long way since the painful hard lenses of the mid-twentieth century, the ease with which you can transition from glasses to contacts has never been easier. It takes getting used to the act of placing a lens on your eye – training, unintentional blinking and tears are common for newcomers – but they become so comfortable that you can forget that your vision is less than perfect. This comfort, however, requires the fitting process that is undertaken during a visit to your optometrist and proper eye care and lens cleaning.

What are the cons?
If you correct your vision through eyeglasses or contacts, it is important to know how to care for your eyes. Keeping them well-rested is key. If you are wearing eyeglasses, be sure to get your vision checked once a year and update the prescription on your glasses. Beware scratches and damage to your lenses and keep your glasses in places where they will not get broken.

If you wear contacts, it is advisable to also have a pair of glasses on hand. If your eye suffers from infection or fatigue, you are going to want a pair of glasses to slip on; it is also a good idea to take a day off from your contacts every once in awhile to and enjoy wearing glasses for a change. Your eyes will thank you for the rest.