Glasses or Contacts - need advice quick!

My annual eye appointment is tomorrow. I've been wearing contacts (mono vision, daily wear) for the past five years. They are good because I can usually see what I want with no problems. My distance vision is compromised as is my near vision. I teach spinning & do other physical activities, so contacts are a definite plus.

OTOH, as I mature (cough cough) I'm needing stronger contacts for my bad eye. That means even more compromise in near & far objects. I'm thinking about getting regular contacts (the ones you put in solution) for spinning, pilates, running, etc. & then switching to glasses for the rest of my life. OR, getting a tad weaker contact & using reading glasses.

Any experience with glasses vs contacts? Can you really see a lot better with glasses so that putting up with them is worth it? I really like wearing contacts because they're so easy - but I like seeing too.

As a mostly contact wearer who still owns a pair of glasses (three or four prescriptions out of date, but not that far off really) ... keep the contacts.

It's less hassle having to dig for your reading glasses in the purse (or jersey pocket) where they always live, than it is ALWAYS keeping track of your distance glasses, since that's the only issue you actually raised.

It s*cks trying to operate a vehicle on public roadways without any peripheral vision, for the answer you didn't ask about. That's the reason I got contacts to begin with, and I'll stick with them unless I'm physically unable to wear them any more.

For that same reason, I'm really not interested in monovision or trying bifocal contacts. When I'm driving, or riding with or without a motor, I want to be able to see everything in my theoretical field of vision.

I outgrew mono vision so I now have mono bifocols. I do everything in them except drive in the rain or at night, then I wear my glasses. I think I see distance better with my left eye than I did when I had mono vision.

I'd do contacts with reading glasses. I hate my glasses for physical activity -- my vision doesn't process nearly as smoothly when a ball's flying at me during tennis, and if the glasses jostle during movement, vision gets distorted. The lack of peripheral vision is annoying, too, though I've never found it debilitating (speaking as one who's blind as a bat without vision correction). I also tend to feel more alert and awake when wearing contacts, since the world is more in focus. Contacts provide much better vision and are worth it to me, even if the cleaning process takes a bit of time.

I tried to go the contacts route a few years back, I cannot stand touching my eyeball (I freely admit to being utterly neurotic, it is no coincidence my DOG is also neurotic, hah!) I have astigmatism and I am near-sighted. I hate wearing glasses whilst performing sweaty type of activities so when I run (which is not that often lately) I don't WEAR my glasses...once, when I lived in Vancouver, I was running with my dog, when I saw something black and white in a ditch...I said "hi kitty" but my dog started going mental and as I got closer, I realized it was a SKUNK!!! Let's just say I backpedaled in a hurry!

Anyway, my glasses slide down my nose when I'm sweaty, my DH says I just need new ones that are fitted properly (I have an appointment tomorrow, actually.)

I've been wearing contacts for 35 years. What an improvement over the years.
I use the ones that you take out every night, wear the same pair for 2 weeks. Just soak, no rub.
My left eye has a bad astigmatism; I choose not to see 20/20 out of this eye, as every time I try the astigmatism contact, I have a huge allergy attack because I can feel it... the eye doctor does not believe me, but it's happened twice.
I started to need reading glasses when I was just over 40. I am now almost 58 and now my nearsightedness has decreased and my farsightedness increased and then leveled off about 2 years ago. So... the prescription in my contacts has gone down a lot! I can actually read some stuff without my reading glasses.
I couldn't imagine wearing my regular glasses all day. I have a pair of nice progressives, but the very few times I have worn them all day, I get a horrible headache, not from the prescription, but from having the glasses on my nose all day! Plus, I hate driving with the progressives; I would need prescription sunglasses. Nor could I even contemplate riding. I can't even use cycling sunglasses that have the rim all the way around the lens. It totally obscures my field of vision.
Go for the contacts.

What they all said. Love my contacts, love changing to glasses for the evening. I've considered getting lasered but the contacts are so easy care that it doesn't feel worth the effort. Can't STAND wearing glasses for anything physical, they move, tilt, block side vision, bump into things in close corners.

Re contact comfort: I had the worst time when switching to the newer type of contacts made from silicone. They're stiffer, and hurt like h*ll, but my optician couldn't see the problem. Finally figured out that I have a very "flat" eye and the curvature was off. Once I got that sorted out it was all sweet.

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Originally Posted by lph

Re contact comfort: I had the worst time when switching to the newer type of contacts made from silicone. They're stiffer, and hurt like h*ll, but my optician couldn't see the problem. Finally figured out that I have a very "flat" eye and the curvature was off. Once I got that sorted out it was all sweet.

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Some people just can't wear some contacts (and I think most optometrists just accept that). I recently switched brands because the brand I'd worn for years had come out with a "new and improved" version that I couldn't wear at all. It felt like they were inside out, the edges were that rough. The optometrist said that a lot of people had that experience with this particular lens. The one he switched me to are noticeably more comfortable than even the old ones were (and I really never had a problem with them).

Years before that, when I was wearing the kind that lasted for a year, the optometrist tried me with a brand I could wear only in one eye. Dealing with that was part of why I switched to the disposable ones (I hate the waste, but do they even make the other kind any more??) - I wanted to be sure that the contacts I ordered were identical to ones I was trying the prescription with.

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Years before that, when I was wearing the kind that lasted for a year, the optometrist tried me with a brand I could wear only in one eye. Dealing with that was part of why I switched to the disposable ones (I hate the waste, but do they even make the other kind any more??) - I wanted to be sure that the contacts I ordered were identical to ones I was trying the prescription with.

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I also have disposables & love them. They're easy & because they're flimsier, I don't even feel them. I hate the waste too, but they're so tiny & the package is recyclable.

Thanks for all of the great advice! I think I'll keep the contacts. Had not even thought about the peripheral vision problems with glasses. I only need reading glasses when I'm doing very intricate work like hand sewing or beading. Otherwise, I can read things just fine.

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Originally Posted by lph

What they all said. Love my contacts, love changing to glasses for the evening. I've considered getting lasered but the contacts are so easy care that it doesn't feel worth the effort. Can't STAND wearing glasses for anything physical, they move, tilt, block side vision, bump into things in close corners.

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I thought about getting lasered too but I've read that often times you still need reading glasses. For that kind of $$, I'd expect 20/20 in both eyes. Also, the thought of lasering in my eye just creeps me out.

I wore contacts for 26 years (and glasses for 29) and just this summer I got lasik surgery. It wasn't too expensive (under $3K) and it is AH-MAY-ZING!!! I ride all the time and never get dry eyes anymore, and sweat in my eyes is not nearly as bothersome as it used to be. They can do mono-vision with the lasik or can just correct the vision to perfect in each eye.

Contacts were easy and I hated my glasses (only wore the glasses to bed each night). The three weeks I had to wear my glasses before the surgery was difficult because I hate being without peripheral vision.

If you can afford Lasik- I would HIGHLY recommend it!!! I can't believe I waited so long to do it. It's been amazing beyond anything I could have thought.

If you plan to stick with contacts or glasses- I'd still do contacts over glasses. So much easier.

I wear glasses 100% of the time because I don't do well with contacts. I have "dry eyes" and am constantly blinking funny or putting drops in my eyes with contacts. Any wind in my eyes and they dry out very quickly, so I know I can't wear them cycling, even with sunglasses. The breeze always comes around the frames and dries me out.

That being said, if you can wear contacts, that's the way I would go.

Thanks for reminding me to make my appointment. :)

Part of my problem was that I couldn't see as well as I used to (thus thought maybe I had to transition into glasses.) He said that my prescription hasn't changed but my astigmatism has become worse. He ordered a couple of difference brands of toric lenses to try (the kind you use when you have astigmatism.)

When he showed me the difference between regular lenses & toric lenses (by looking through those big eyeglass things) the difference was remarkable. So, looking forward to new lenses. He said for close up work, just buy the 1.50 strength readers (I sew & do beading.)

Luckily, he is a cyclist, so he understands wanting to wear contacts to keep the peripheral vision!

I get my new glasses in about a week - I got the coating that changes depending on the light and of course, anti-glare (once you go anti-glare you never go back.) Polycarbonate, as well. They're pretty stylish, too! YAY no more 5 year old frames.

I have monthly disposables for my right eye (that I still can't really see out of, b/c I can't afford the astigmatism correction) and dailies for my left. I have a hard time keeping the contacts in the right place in windy situations...either I blink, and they move, or I don't blink, and they get watery. The dailies are a better fit and it doesn't matter if my right eye gets blurry.

But I wear my glasses when I'm not running or biking and when I have to drive someplace new (I can't focus on little road signs with my contacts). Partly prefer contacts when working out b/c they're more comfortable (my glasses are heavy!) and because I like having my peripheral vision in focus.

I would do Lasik in a heartbeat if I could. My prescription is too bad. Though my doctor did tell me the other day that if we get a particular vision insurance rider, the corrective surgery that WOULD fix it is considered non-cosmetic for me and would be covered in full.

I'm replacing my 8 year old glasses, too. New style, smaller, "petite" frame. Regular sized frames looked to big on me. Also trying prescription sunglasses, mostly for driving. Not sure how much I will wear them.

I wear contacts and then get glasses from Coastalcontacts.com. After many recommendations, I checked out the website last year. They give away free glasses regularly. Just friend them on Facebook and wait for them to announce a giveaway. You just pay for shipping and $10 to upgrade the lens (scratch proof anti-glare). Many are designer brands and they are nice glasses. Customer service is good there too. I'm very happy with the two pairs of glasses I have from them.

I cannot wear contacts, so I have a bunch of pairs of glasses that I switch out. I have to wear glasses all the time. They are like accessories to me. I have two pair of everyday glasses that I like alot, and one super nice pair of frameless ones that I reserve for special occasions. I also have two pair of rx sunglasses--one for cycling (Tfosi) and the other for normal fabulousness (they are Coach and are very wonderful!). I also have Rx swimming goggles, but I don't swim much anymore.

My glasses are an investment. I really need to get some new everyday ones since the ones I have are five and eight years old...but they are so expensive that I'm making do for the time being.

Oh to have glasses coverage as part of insurance! Maybe in another life!

I love my contacts. I have disposables. They are more, but the longer wear contacts I was having a lot of irritation.

My eye doc said to put off the reading glasses as long as you can because it's hard to go back once you start.

For teaching spin I at least have a classic iPod and the screen is larger. Also my arms are a bit longer than average so that helps holding it out far to find the right playlist to start class.

Suggestion from an instructor forum I use said to get magnifying sheets and put them on the iPod, vs the reading glasses. Suppose you could rig something up to a bike pc as well.

I've seen magnifiers in bookstores that look like a bookmark. Some even come with a light and are credit card sized to carry in your wallet.

With Garmin you can adjust your number of data fields. With less fields the numbers are larger. So you just choose your data selectively lol.

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Originally Posted by Miranda

Suggestion from an instructor forum I use said to get magnifying sheets and put them on the iPod, vs the reading glasses. Suppose you could rig something up to a bike pc as well.

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I need to see the stereo :D