Eye Glasses

mrsk616 · April 2015

Havent been on in a long time i know, got into reading which occupied my time at work.

I have realized its finally time to get new glasses. its been 3 yrs and that is the longest i have gone in between visits. I had worn contacts during the summer for 6 or 7 years but have worn contacts for 10 yrs. Last year i started having issues and really got tired of wearing them or having to put my eyes in (my dad calls it that). I work on a computer all day so wearing contacts are rough for me.

What would you guys do? Just bite my tongue and get new glasses or get contacts.

novella1186 · April 2015

You should do whatever works best for you. I can't stand wearing glasses, so I wear contacts (and I have really terrible vision).

I was having eye issues and had to be switched to daily contacts. They started bugging me, so I switched to a brand that has more moisture.

If you really dislike contacts, though, finding a good brand won't solve anything. Just wear glasses if that's what you prefer.

southernbelle0915 · April 2015

I wear glasses at work most of the time. I have astigmatism and it's easier on my eyes. I have contacts for home and weekend activities.

I used to wear contacts all the time, but now that I'm at a desk job staring at a computer all day long, it doesn't work for me.

Blergbot · April 2015

I have chronic dry eye, so I can no longer wear contacts. Very very rarely I will wear them for special occasions, like my wedding. You get used to glasses. They're basically just a part of my face now. And they're way cheaper. Just my two cents.

chibiyui · April 2015

I never could do contacts, so I always wear glasses.

Do you. If contacts bug you get a sweet ass pair of glasses.

[Deleted User] · April 2015

I wear contacts all day (work on a computer all day as well) and glasses at night. I VERY rarely wear my glasses all day. Sometimes on the weekend I give my "eyes a break" and just wear glasses if I am not going out, but glasses always have and always will bother me. I've had them since I was 7, and they just aren't my thing.

This isn't really a question we can answer for you. It depends on what you are more comfortable with. Glasses can certainly be fun, and now people wear them as "fashion accessories" so you can find very cute frames to match your style or your personality. If you are more comfortable with glasses, I say totally go for it. Check out places that are doing deals or discounts where you can get 2 for 1 frames and switch up the styles depending on your mood. If my glasses didn't piss me off, that is what I would do.

If you want to wear contacts, try to find some that do not dry out your eyes. I have the long-wear kind that you keep for about 3 months and take out at night. (TBH I always wear mine for longer than 3 months...I know. Bad me.) My eyes do not tend to dry out during the day, so for me it is not a problem. My mom also wear similar contacts and she has to carrying around eyedrops because her eyes dry out. It definitely depends on your particular eyes and the type/brand of contacts you wear.

mrsk616 · April 2015

southernbelle0915 said:
I wear glasses at work most of the time. I have astigmatism and it's easier on my eyes. I have contacts for home and weekend activities.

I used to wear contacts all the time, but now that I'm at a desk job staring at a computer all day long, it doesn't work for me.

STUCK IN BOX

i have the same issue. if i could afford to do both i so would. i miss my black rimmed glasses and been wanting to get a new pair for years.

i actually enjoy my glasses. i like being able to go to sleep and not have to worry about my contacts drying out or having to take them out. too

doeydo · April 2015

I'd for sure get my eyes checked by an optometrist and probably buy some glasses. I don't wear them myself, but I know I personally would hate having to wear contacts.

hellosweetie1015 · April 2015

I'd get glasses myself.

BUT. I can't put contacts in to save my life. So. There's that. I tried a few years ago, and they always always always hurt my eyes.

I also didn't learn I needed glasses until I was in my early 20s. I never thought I even needed them until I was out at the dog park late one afternoon with a friend, and her brown-and-black dog basically disappeared against the maturing hay field behind the fence. I think if I'd worn them all my life my answer might be different.

JCbride2015 · April 2015

Why would you have to "bite your tongue?" What is it that you want to say about the glasses/contacts dilemma but are not comfortable actually saying?

Get whatever is going to work better for you. I switch it up between glasses and contacts depending on my outfit, how much makeup I want to wear, and whether my eyes are feeling dry. You can get a full pair of glasses (frames and lenses) on WarbyParker.com for $95 with a prescription from your local optometrist. I think even if you wear contacts every day, you really want at least one pair of glasses for backup purposes.

buttercup1958 · April 2015

As a teenager I hated wearing glasses. I also couldn't put in contacts to save my life, so I walked around blind ha. Now I love my glasses. I think glasses can be fun! I view it as buying another awesome accesory. Right now I have bronzy metal frame glasses. I'm going to get new ones as a treat and I'm planning on getting plastic navy ones. I'm so excited.

[Deleted User] · April 2015

JCbride2015 said:
Why would you have to "bite your tongue?" What is it that you want to say about the glasses/contacts dilemma but are not comfortable actually saying?

Get whatever is going to work better for you. I switch it up between glasses and contacts depending on my outfit, how much makeup I want to wear, and whether my eyes are feeling dry. You can get a full pair of glasses (frames and lenses) on WarbyParker.com for $95 with a prescription from your local optometrist. I think even if you wear contacts every day, you really want at least one pair of glasses for backup purposes.

I do the same, and second the recommendation for Warby Parker for affordable stylish glasses.

jacques27 · April 2015

So, is the dilemma that you can only afford to do one or the other?

Do you currently have a pair of glasses, even if the prescription is old?

Yes - lean towards contacts if you like them
No - Everyone should have at least a pair of glasses - contacts fall out/get lost, they rip, sometimes your eye gets irritated making wearing contacts unbearable.

Other options: Look into different kinds of contacts if you aren't happy with your current kind - I have the kind you wear for a month, even overnight and then dispose. I love them. You could buy a cheap pair of glasses from a site like 39dollarglasses.com (I've had very good luck there, but you need to know certain measurements like pupil distance) so that it makes getting both glasses and contacts attainable. You can also order contacts online once you have a valid prescription (I generally can get a one year supply of my contacts for $150 online vs. $320 from my eye clinic). Or, buy a pair of kick ass glasses that you love and then save up for contacts. My last pair, I took my time and bought a kick ass pair that I like to wear instead of just buying what I think might look good from an online website - I wear my glasses more often now than I used to, though still wear contacts 90% of the time.

ETA: Another option is if you have a pair of glasses you already like, just look into getting new lenses instead of an entirely new pair of frames and lenses.

mrsk616 · April 2015

with how strong my prescription is both are outrageously expensive for me and i dont exactly have 300 for what my glasses cost usually.

i want to go back to americas best because the exam is free if you buy glasses from them but afraid with what they cost because the last time we went we spent almost 300

mrsk616 · April 2015

jacques27 said:

ETA: Another option is if you have a pair of glasses you already like, just look into getting new lenses instead of an entirely new pair of frames and lenses.

jacques27 said:

jacques27 said:
stuck in box

jacques27 said:
the issue is the ones i liked are almost 10 years old and are the plastic kind. they were from high school and they came back into style last year. we thought about that about 4 yrs ago but figured because of age they could break

JennyColada · April 2015

What don't you like about glasses? If you don't want to get glasses then don't get them. They're your eyes, do with them what you want.

I've never worn contacts, and the idea of touching my eyeball skeezes me out. I love glasses though, and I think that I always pick out good frames. I often get complimented on them.

peachy13 · April 2015

I do both. Somedays my eyes are just really itching and I'll rock glasses to work. The only problem with glasses is that I hate going to the gym in them. But usually I'll wear contacts during the work day and then they come out the minute I'm home and it's glasses for the rest of the night. Nice for TV watching in bed too.

princessleia22 · April 2015

I went through the same dilemma. Contacts started bothering my eyes and I'd have to take them out immediately after work. So, I ditched the contacts and just wore glasses everyday. I preferred the look of contacts, but it totally wasn't worth the discomfort.

But, then last year I finally opted for the Lasik surgery. I knew several people who had done it and were happy, so I decided to go for it. I was able to get 3-year zero interest financing, so that made it more affordable. My eyesight was bad enough that they had to do the PRK type, which required more healing time and the first couple days totally sucked. But, after that it wasn't so bad. I had it done on Friday and was back to work on Monday. And now I love not having to worry about glasses or contacts. My eyes do get dried out more easily, but it's finally (after a year) starting to get better with that so I don't need eye drops everyday. But, I'm very glad I made that choice.

So, I'd suggest at least considering Lasik, if that's an option for you. Otherwise, only you can really decide whether you want to keep dealing with contacts or wear glasses. Honestly, if contacts are uncomfortable, I'd just stick with glasses... it's not worth being uncomfortable all the time.

ElcaB · April 2015

Have you considered Lasik? I got it last year and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

If contacts are uncomfortable for you, I'd stick with glasses or Lasik. Have you heard of Zenni Optical? They have super cheap glasses & when I wasn't allowed to wear contacts for about a year due to some issues, I bought like, five pairs. It made wearing glasses easier and a little more fun when I could switch up my look a lot.

lacqueredlover · April 2015

I hate touching my eyeballs so I wear glasses. I get them cheap from Warby Parker and Firmoo.com and have tons of different pairs so I make them an accessory!

I'm not eligible for Lasik yet since my eyes are deteriorating too fast so I just rock the glasses look.

buttercup1958 · April 2015

I can't have the Lasik surgery since I have glaucoma. So I didn't even think of that option.

Belthil · April 2015

I would highly recommend making sure you have an reasonably up-to-date pair of glasses. If you get an infection or an abrasion you won't be able to wear your contacts for a bit. So you'll need to be able to function with your glasses.

allispain · April 2015

I started off wearing contacts but had major dry-eye issues after close to a decade of not a single problem. Le sigh. I'm now a full-time glasses wearer. It took a long time to get used to, but now I am used to it. And honestly, I like not having to constantly be messing with contacts.

lyndausvi · April 2015

I hate glasses. The last time I got them was 6 years ago. I'm lucky my prescription hasn't changed much since then. A little, but not much. This year I'm getting both. Not getting contacts is not an option. They are my lifeline. But once every 5-8 years I have to bit the bullet and get new glasses. I save a little each year for when it's time.

I guess my question for you is do you have contacts to last you a while? If not, I would get both. If no, then just get the glasses.

lightningsnow · April 2015

I have glasses currently. I've tried contacts twice with different brands but my eyes got too sensitive for them where I could only wear them for like 4 hours.

I'm in the same boat that I need a new prescription as well but I need to get my vision insurance card from work before I go.

I've thought about Lasik myself but I'm incredibly nervous about big surgeries and I would need to be knocked the fuck out for something like that. I doubt I can be for something like eye surgery so I'll keep my glasses.

CMGragain · April 2015

I am extremely nearsighted, a minus 8.

I started wearing hard contact lenses in 1964. When soft lenses became available, I switched to those. It was like a miracle! Those of you with closer to normal vision cannot imagine the difference between vision with contact lenses and vision with glasses. The colors seem brighter. You have more depth of field. You have side vision. The difference is astonishing. With glasses, everything is distorted. I cannot see a straight line, or tell if a picture is hung straight. I have trouble judging distance. My brain has learned to compensate over the years, but I hate going down stairs.

After many, many years, my eyes became very dry. Three opthamologists told me "No lasiks for you! Your pupils are too large, and you correction is too extreme!" Then I developed cancer around my left eye, so no more contact lenses. I really miss them. After age 40, I needed reading glasses. I used to wear a drug store pair with my contacts. Now I have bifocals.

People who have extreme prescriptions need to pay extra for ultra thin lenses unless they want to look like they are wearing a pair of soda bottles. I remember when glasses were made of actual optical glass. Those were heavy suckers!

Prices today for contact lenses and eyeglasses are actually much lower than they were back in 1964. My first pair of lenses cost $600, and that was in 1964 dollars. I would say, go for the contact lenses if you like them. Otherwise, you will pay those nasty extra charges for special lenses on your glasses, and you won't see as well.

CMGragain · April 2015

lightningsnow said:
I have glasses currently. I've tried contacts twice with different brands but my eyes got too sensitive for them where I could only wear them for like 4 hours.

I'm in the same boat that I need a new prescription as well but I need to get my vision insurance card from work before I go.

I've thought about Lasik myself but I'm incredibly nervous about big surgeries and I would need to be knocked the fuck out for something like that. I doubt I can be for something like eye surgery so I'll keep my glasses.

I had eye surgery last summer. I had a detached retina in my right eye (not the eye with cancer), and I needed emergency surgery to save the vision in that eye. Surgery took three hours. I had to be awake because it was necessary for me to cooperate with the surgeon. "Look up, now look down. Look to the right." etc. He could not have saved my eye without my cooperation. The vision in that eye is 20/20 now, with slight distortion when I am wearing my glasses.

Did it hurt? A little. I was given an injection of numbing anesthetic, sort of like novocaine at the dentist. It sure beat losing the vision in that eye! Next year I will need cataract surgery for the other eye, thanks to radiation treatments.

Of course, lasik surgery is elective. Your insurance won't pay for it. Nobody HAS to have it. If you are squeamish about it, get over it. I think it is wonderful that medical science has come so far. I only wish it was an option for me.

mrsk616 · May 2015

i have thought about lasik but nervous about doing it. my insurance covers up to a certain amount but i guess sometimes you have to do what you have to do..

JennyColada · May 2015

CMGragain said:
If you are squeamish about it, get over it.

Or she could just, oh I don't know, NOT have Lasik if it makes her feel squeamish?

flyingfoxes · May 2015

I tried contacts in high school, but they just bugged my dry eyes, so I wore glasses for years. I had LASIK in 2006, so I haven't had to bother with either since then. I'm approaching 40 now though, so I'm sure reading glasses are in my future, and I still get really dry eyes occasionally, but it's been so worth it to not have to fuss with glasses or contacts for these past 9 years.

princessleia22 · May 2015

lightningsnow said:
I have glasses currently. I've tried contacts twice with different brands but my eyes got too sensitive for them where I could only wear them for like 4 hours.

I'm in the same boat that I need a new prescription as well but I need to get my vision insurance card from work before I go.

I've thought about Lasik myself but I'm incredibly nervous about big surgeries and I would need to be knocked the fuck out for something like that. I doubt I can be for something like eye surgery so I'll keep my glasses.

I wouldn't consider Lasik to be a "big surgery". Yes, you need to be awake and it's freaky as hell because your eyes are open and you can see everything they do. But, they put numbing drops in your eyes so you don't feel anything and it's super quick. I think the actual procedure itself took like 30 seconds for each eye. I was in the procedure room for maybe 5-10 minutes total. It was much easier than I expected it to be and it was amazing that you can actually see correction immediately. It took a couple weeks for my vision to be full 20/20, but I could see good enough immediately after the procedure.

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